The library will be closed on Friday 18th October due to an ABC Radio event taking place in the theatre and the library.  

eBooks can be downloaded during this closure. If you need help setting up an eReader or downloading eBooks speak to the library staff. 

Come along to the library in November for a rehearsed reading of a new play by our 2024 playwright-in-residence, Ash Flanders.

Ash, a multi-award winning playwright and performer, has spent many hours writing in the library and says he has loved being able to write outside of his wardrobe.

On Thursday 21st November the library will host a rehearsed reading of Commentary. It tells the story of Nick, a filmmaker-turned-film-lecturer, who is offered the chance to record a director's commentary of his one successful film for the Melbourne International Film Festival. This chance leads to him being pulled in countless directions. Is this a comeback or certain death? A chance to reframe and redress the past? And what exactly is he supporting by allowing the film to be shown again?

The rehearsed reading of Commentary will be directed by Matthew Lutton and features Luke Ryan, Brigid Gallacher, Artemis Ioannides, Eva Seymour and Mia Tuco.

The performance will be held on Thursday 21 November with doors opening at 6:00pm with the reading at 6:30pm. This event is free for members and $20 for guests. Bookings can be made through Trybooking using this link.

Alissa has been Artist in Residence at the Melbourne Athenaeum Library for the 12 months of our 185th year. During this residency she delved into the Archive room, choosing fascinating old objects to draw, each with its own history. She also sketched at the Athenaeum Library’s Friday night concerts,  capturing the impression of musicians, audience and the library. Alissa will talk about her drawings and explain her processes of watercolour pencil sketches and sketching on location.

The workshop will be held on Saturday 16 November from 3:00pm to 4:00pm. This event is free for members and $20 for guests. Bookings can be made through Trybooking using this link.

Affinity Quartet is returning to the library after a European stint to perform Beethoven's first foray into string quartets, the Opus 18, over three Friday evenings.

The Opus 18 is considered by many to be an expression of total mastery of the string quartet form. With these six compact and ground-breaking string quartets, a young Beethoven, still in his twenties, created a striking new direction for this intimate medium.

The first of these performances by the rising stars of the next generation of Australian chamber musicians will be on November 15, when they will perform String Quartet no. 2 in G major and String Quartet no. 3 in D major.

The performance will be held on Friday 15 November with doors opening at 5:30pm for a 6:00pm performance. This event is free for members and $20 for guests. Bookings can be made through Trybooking using this link.

Alissa Duke is a librarian and loves draw. She sketches daily, documenting everyday events and objects and travels in her life. She will sketch for five minutes on the tram, or for half an hour while having coffee, or complete a drawing over a few nights at home.  She carries her sketchbook, watercolour pencils and ink pen with her everywhere. There is always something to draw!

Her art captures the character of the object she draws, connecting it with the viewer. She is also part of a global the Urban Sketchers movement, and she continue to document her world as a sketchbook journal artist.

Alissa has been Artist in Residence at the Melbourne Athenaeum Library for the 12 months of our 185th year. During this residency she delved into the Archive room, choosing fascinating old objects to draw, each with its own history. She also sketched at the Athenaeum Library’s Friday night concerts,  capturing the impression of musicians, audience and the library. Alissa will talk about her drawings and explain her processes of watercolour pencil sketches and sketching on location.

The talk will be held on Saturday 9 November from 3:00pm to 4:00pm. This event is free for both members and guests. Bookings can be made through Trybooking using this link.

Members are invited to join us on Monday 18th November for a celebratory afternoon tea with the Governor, Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC.

The afternoon tea will celebrate our 185th birthday, a significant milestone in Melbourne’s cultural history.

We will launch a new history of the Athenaeum and the Governor will deliver a speech.

Numbers are strictly limited so please RSVP for this event as soon as you can. We will establish a waiting list if needed.

The afternoon tea will be held on Monday 18 November from 2pm. Bookings can be made through Trybooking using this link.

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