News
Gerard McCann and Louise Wolhuter
News
27 February 2026
Authors Gerard McCann and Louise Wolhuter discuss their experiences winning the 2025 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards and what it meant to them.
The scholarship supports the development of professional staff working in the WA public library network and aims to enhance library services through research and learning experiences. Applications open are now open and close on 10 April.
News
16 January 2026
The Western Australian Premier's Book Awards, a vibrant celebration of the stories and voices that define the State, has launched for 2026.
Stories
How the Botanic Park came to be
Stories
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.
Stories
Photographs and films
WA history
Wimmin's Work
Wimmin's Work is a new collection of audio, audio-visual and photographic stories documenting the stories of ten Western Australian women.
by Lucy Torvaldsen
Wimmin's Work
Strap in for Barbara's reflection on her life of activism, advocacy and uplifting others. And remember - life really can get better with age, and you never have to settle down.
Exhibitions
Photography Exhibition
Dates
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See the work of some of WA's best photographers from 2025. Spanning a range of styles and subjects, this exhibition showcases the winners and finalists of the third annual awards.
The Food That Shapes Us
Dates
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An exhibition exploring what food tells us about who we are as Western Australians. From nostalgic eateries, iconic ads and timeworn recipes to radical social change and environmental transformation, take a seat at the table of WA’s evolving food heritage.
It’s a Barrel of Fun!
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Get ready to go wild. Swing open the doors to a world where imagination runs riot and animals talk back in this animal-themed exhibition of picture book artwork from the State Library Collection.
Upcoming events
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Weekly on Monday, 10:30am - 12pm until Mon 30 Mar 2026
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Weekly on Monday, 10:30am - 12pm until Fri 3 Jul 2026
Interactive story fun for pre-schoolers and their carers. Followed by a half hour Play Time where families can explore literacy and learning through reading, talking, singing, writing and playing together.
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Monthly on the last Wednesday, 2 - 4pm until Wed 25 Nov 2026
Discover how to find out more about your kinship in a joint presentation from the Storylines team and the Aboriginal History WA team.
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Weekly on Friday, 10:30am - 12pm until Fri 27 Mar 2026
Songs, rhymes and stories for babies and their families, followed by an hour of Play Time to help develop early literacy and learning skills.
School holiday activities
Daily All day until Sun 19 Apr 2026
School holidays have arrived at the State Library and things are about to get wild! Inspired by our exhibition Monkey Business : It’s a Barrel of Fun! join us for a range of fun, animal-themed activities designed especially for school aged children.
Make eco-friendly sculptures with artist Jodie Davidson
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Join artist and author Jodie Davidson for a hands-on creative workshop that turns everyday garden items into crazy critters. Hammer, screw, knot, and weave materials together to bring your creative ideas to life.
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Daily on , 10 - 10:30am until Fri 17 Apr 2026
Join us for a fun half hour of storytelling featuring animal-themed tales. Each week brings new stories to spark curiosity and imagination.
Sheiks, Fakes & Cameleers
Between 1870 and 1920, around 20,000 camels and 4,000 men travelled to Australia to help explore and develop the country's arid interior. Discover the forgotten history of cameleers in Western Australia.