History of the Library

A library has always been part of the Museum since its formation in 1986.  Then as now, the main roles of the library are to support the collecting policies of the Museum and to provide research and reference material for the Museum and for members of the public involved in research into maritime heritage.

The first Librarian was Mary Long who purchased and catalogued many of the books which are now the foundation of a library which has around 2000 books with collections of some 50 journal or magazine titles.  In 1995, the Museum obtained a grant from the Sidney Myer Foundation which among other things provided money for a computer system and library cataloguing software and a fund for purchasing books.  We are fortunate that one of the Museums volunteers is a qualified library technician who has entered data for our entire book collection and organized the magazines.  We are one of the few small Museums that can boast a fully catalogued library collection and this makes it easier to find material to answer the many queries we receive from visitors and the public each year. We believe that one of the Museum’s strengths is the quality of its library collection which we are continually striving to improve.

The Museum’s Honorary Librarian is Tony Cavanagh, assisted by volunteer Library Technician, Jillian Galbraith.

Collection In recent years we have received several major donations of books which have filled gaps, although we still buy when we can. Our main interests are: Lifeboats. Lighthouses. Fishing, fishing craft and fishermen. Wrecks and strandings and associated activities. Diving and preservation of maritime objects. The Rip, Queenscliff/Point Lonsdale and Port Phillip. Early Victorian history especially maritime history. Navigation and navigation equipment. Salvage and rescue. Immigration and emigration. Models and model building.

The library is a research facility and books are generally not loaned to members of the public.  However, books may be borrowed for a maximum of one month by members of the Committee of Management and others approved by the librarian or the administration officer, June Negri who will organize loan arrangements.

Requests for Information/Research Service

The Museum offers a research service through the Library for all types of maritime enquiries but especially for details of ships and shipping arriving in Victoria in the 19^th and early 20^th century and Victorian shipwrecks.  We also maintain several databases which index the availability of ships pictures (both sail and steam) in a large number of books.  All requests must be received on the appropriate form.  Because of the often considerable time involved with research, a standard fee applies to all search applications, payable at the time of application.  Results will be supplied in writing or by email if appropriate.  We may not always be successful but the fee still applies even if the results are negative.  We aim to respond to the requests within 2 weeks; the fee also covers the cost of postage.

The photos on the left are the entrance to the library and part of the book collection. Photos of the covers of some the books in the collection have been arranged into a gallery.

Click here to view the gallery.