The artists’ archive, through its retention of materials, leaves similar footprints for the researcher and maker to discover.

Our three presenters, Peter Lyssiotis, Dr Anne Holloway and Kerri Klumpp, treat the archive as a type of archaeological site, filled with material culture to be recovered and analysed. They explore the way an artist can find newness in preserved patterns, what the physicality of correspondence says about humanity, and how the digital and physical worlds come together.

The event will be held on Thursday 31 July at 6:30pm. This event is free for both members and non-members but bookings are essential and can be made through try booking using this link.

The recently published From Convict Printers to Book Arcades completes the three volume History of the Book in Australia, a project begun in the 1990s.

It takes its place alongside other projects emanating from Britain, France, America, and Canada that have sought to document global histories of the book.

Join the volume’s editors Wallace Kirsop and Judy Donnelly in conversation with Des Cowley as they discuss the genesis of the Australian project, how they succeeded in bringing this significant publishing project to fruition, and their thoughts on its contributions to international scholarship.

The event will be held on Thursday 31 July at 1:00pm. This event is free for both members and non-members but bookings are essential and can be made through try booking using this link.

The Melbourne Athenaeum (originally known as the Melbourne Mechanics’ Institution) houses the city’s oldest lending library.

Commencing as a collection of donated books in a rented house at the corner of Queen and Bourke Street, the library has been operating in its current premises in Collins Street since 1842. An annual subscription fee of one pound entitled members to become part of a literary and cultural hub.

Join Fiona Moore, the Library’s Archives Manager, at this session and discover how the library developed, and learn about its treasures.

The event will be held on Wednesday 30 July at 11:00am. This event is free for both members and non-members but bookings are essential and can be made through try booking using this link.

Lucy Sussex, author of Blockbuster about Fergus Hume, the biggest selling crime fiction writer of the 19th century, has now published, in collaboration with Megan Brown, the story of Mary Fortune, a pioneering crime writer from 19th century Victoria.

Join Lucy in conversation with Jane Sullivan, literary columnist and crime fiction author, to learn more about the outrageous fortunes of crime-writer Mary and her criminal son George.

Outrageous Fortunes (Black Inc.), and some of Fortune's detective stories, Nothing but Murders (Verse Chorus Press) will be available for purchase and signing.

The event will be held on Tuesday 29 July with doors opening at 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start. This event is free for both members and non-members but bookings are essential and can be made through try booking using this link.

When a teenaged girl started a retail business with her parents in Essendon in 1965, she could not have imagined the life-long adventure that she had just begun.

Today that girl is Kay Craddock, AM, a celebrated international figure in the world of rare and antiquarian books, a past president of the peak Australian and International organisations of antiquarian booksellers, and the founder of Melbourne Rare Book Week.

Join us to hear her story in conversation with Melbourne author and literary columnist, Jane Sullivan of The Age.

The event will be held on Monday 28 July with doors opening at 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start. This event is free for both members and non-members but bookings are essential and can be made through try booking using this link.

This concert is a rare chance to hear live some of the fascinating chamber works by Joseph Haydn for baryton.

The magnificent baryton, an instrument similar to a bass viol, was the favourite instrument of Haydn's employer, Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy.  Haydn composed over 130 works for it, the majority of which are for baryton, viola and cello - the so-called 'Baryton Trios'. The commission of a new baryton in 2023 - the only one in Australia - enables the Gryphon Baryton Trio to share this very special music with Australian audiences.

The trio draws on the combined experience of Laura Vaughan (baryton), Katie Yap (classical viola) and Josephine Vains (classical cello).

The performance will be held on Friday 4 July with doors opening at 5:30pm for a 6:00pm performance. This event is free for members and $20 for non-members. Bookings can be made through Trybooking using this link.

Tanya-Lee Davies specialises in dreamy, country pop and psychedelic folk, and is big on melody, lush vocals and lyrics that cast spells.

As she prepares to deliver her next LP, with the tongue-in-cheek working title Will You Still Love Me If I Write Sad Songs?, Tanya-Lee will be performing at the library previewing songs from the new album and favourites from her past releases. Tanya-Lee will perform with Catherine McQuade, Gerard Rowan and Michaela Burke.

The performance will be held on Friday 27 June with doors opening at 5:30pm for a 6:00pm performance. This event is free for members and $20 for non-members. Bookings can be made through Trybooking using this link.

Meet the sisters in crime who penned the winning entries from the Body in the Library category of the 2024 Scarlet Stiletto Awards, which the Melbourne Athenaeum Library has sponsored since 2012.

Runner-up Dr Katrina Watson’s debut novel, The Bones, was described as “Helen Garner meets Jed Mercurio” by Booker short-list author MJ Hyland.

Winner Naomi Manuell is a Melbourne writer whose work has appeared in Meanjin. She contributes to Newtown Review of Books and writes on Substack.

The conversation will be moderated by writer Louise Bassett. Louise won the Ned Kelly Award for short crime fiction and her short stories have been published internationally.

The event will be held on Thursday 19 June with doors opening at 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start. This event is free for both members and non-members but bookings are essential and can be made through try booking using this link.

The Idiomatics return to the Atheneum Library, this time joined by two very special guests.

Poet, novelist and non-fiction writer Maxine Beneba Clarke will be reading excerpts of her work over a lush electro-acoustic underscore provided by the band.

Alice Garner on cello will be bringing some sweet strings magic to the Idiomatics' uplifting, groove-drenched sound.

"There’s a special kind of intimacy here. A superbly focused and talented band ... with the unique combination of traditional and modern instruments (and musical styles) cradling each piece and giving it different shapes and textures.” - Stage Whispers, Adelaide June 2023

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