Beginning Monday July 24th and then the 4th Monday each month, the library staff are pleased to offer a new Crime Book Club. Running from 12pm - 1pm, library staff member Jill Semmens will lead a discussion in the library on a featured book.
24 July 2022: Chris Whitaker's We Begin at the End
22 August 2022: The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo
26 September 2022: The Fine Art of Invisible Detection by Robert Goddard
24 October 2022: Shelter by Catherine Jinks
28 November 2022: Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey
Places are limited, so please register your interest by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone on 9650 3100.
For the 11th year, the library is sponsoring the Body in the Library award as part of Sisters in Crime’s annual Scarlet Stiletto Awards.
The category, which sees writers having to include “body in the library” as part of their work, is one of the awards’ most popular categories and has unearthed some gems. Stories penned by winners and runners-up in previous years can be read in the partnerships section of this website.
The Scarlet Stiletto Awards began 29 years ago and invites Australian women crime and mystery writers to submit a short story. The awards open for entries soon and more information can be found at https://sistersincrime.org.au/the-scarlet-stiletto-awards/
Members will have the opportunity to see printmaker Bronwyn Rees at work in the library, from the 25th of July to the 5th of August. Bronwyn, who is our 2022 artist-in-residence, said her practice underwent a “dramatic transformation” during lockdown, switching from landscapes to people and buildings.
As well as working in the library, Bronwyn will speak about her work at an artist talk on Wednesday 27th July from 6pm. The talk is free but bookings are essential, by calling 9650 3100 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Bronwyn’s time in the library has been arranged to coincide with Open House Melbourne, which is being held on July 30 and 31. More details on Open House are available from 30 June at https://openhousemelbourne.org/
The Melbourne Athenaeum is delighted to announce Declan Furber Gillick as the library's 2022 playwright-in-residence. Born in Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Declan is an independent, multi-disciplinary artist, writer and performer whose practice and artistic interests span writing, theatre, poetry, music, rap, film and visual art.
Since completing the Victorian College of the Arts' Masters of Writing for Performance in 2017, Declan has seen his plays performed at festivals including the Melbourne Fringe, won Green Room Awards, and enjoyed a residency as part of the Melbourne Theatre Company's Next Stage Program.
Declan will spend time working in the library throughout the year.
