News & Stories
State Library news and stories from the items in our collection.
Story Topics
The CWA Cookbook and Country Cooking
News
Stories
Podcasts
WA history
Grab a cuppa, pull up a comfy chair and watch a panel of experts explore the enduring influence of both the Country Women’s Association (CWA) and its iconic cookbook.
News
Photographs and films
WA history
Inspired by State Library heritage collection items, these films explore topics ranging from the Rock Masses held at St Gerges Cathedral in the 1970’s, to the founding of Australia’s first Guide Dog school.
News
Margaret Medcalf first joined the State Library of Western Australia’s Archives Branch in 1955.In 1971, she was appointed to the dual role of State Archivist and Principal Librarian of the Battye Library, becoming Western Australia’s second State Archivist.
Gerard McCann and Louise Wolhuter
News
Authors Gerard McCann and Louise Wolhuter discuss their experiences winning the 2025 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards and what it meant to them.
News
The Western Australian Premier's Book Awards, a vibrant celebration of the stories and voices that define the State, has launched for 2026.
Round 5
News
The State Library is pleased to announce 15 successful recipients to share in $208,000 through this year’s Better Beginnings Community Grants. The annual grants program supports recipients to deliver early reading and literacy activities tailored to their communities.
News
The State Library is the place to be this summer. Whether you’re after free entertainment or a quiet escape, we’re open almost every day under our new opening hours.
News
The State Library of Western Australia has celebrated the 20th anniversary of Better Beginnings by launching new look program resources and a newly published version of the iconic Baby Ways book.
News
Four new documentaries inspired by lesser-known Western Australian historical events will be showcased in a series of free screenings as part of WA Reflections.
How the Botanic Park came to be
Stories
Photographs and films
WA history
This story is based on the oral history of forester, ecologist and one of the first Directors of Kings Park, John Stanley Beard (1916–2011), and features a collection of historical photos of Kings Park.
News
Better Beginnings baby packs feature a brand-new wordless book, Baby Days, by award-winning Western Australian author Renae Hayward and illustrator Rebecca Mills.
News
The State Library proudly hosted the 2025 Library Board of Western Australia Awards as part of Library and Information Week — a celebration of excellence in libraries.