News
The Library Board of Western Australia produces an annual report for Parliament. Our latest annual report is now available.
Western Australian Premier's Book Awards
The winners of the 2026 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards were announced at the State Library of Western Australia, sharing a prize pool of $120,000.
News
28 July 2026
Whether you’re a regular visitor or just drop in now and then, we’d love to hear your thoughts on your local public library.
Stories
Stories
Photographs and films
WA history
The State Library’s collection of ephemera also offers a fascinating, kitsch-filled, insight into the historic evolution of the Dockers visual identity. Jump aboard with us for a rollicking history of football in Fremantle.
Perth's place in shared sporting history
Stories
Photographs and films
WA history
Glasgow will this week host the twenty third edition of the Commonwealth Games with a compact, budget-friendly, format stre
In her own words
Stories
Aboriginal stories
WA history
Born in Carnarvon 1918, Jessie shares her memories of being taken from her mother and sent to Moore River Settlement.
Exhibitions
Early Works of Children's Authors & Illustrators
Dates
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Juvenilia is work produced by an author or artist while they were a child. This exhibition showcases the juvenilia of Australian children’s authors and illustrators and their early endeavours at storytelling.
Student Exhibition
Dates
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More than 250 students from four WA schools worked alongside creative professionals to explore vaping culture and misinformation through drawings, lyrics, sculpture, poetry, documentaries and digital media.
Upcoming events
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Weekly on Monday, 10:30am - 12pm until Mon 14 Dec 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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Weekly on Friday, 10:30am - 12pm until Fri 11 Dec 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.
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Monthly on the third Wednesday, 7:30 - 8:30pm until Wed 21 Oct 2026
Online digital book club. Every month, join author David Allan-Petale in conversation with a new author to discuss their book.
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Every 2 months on the second Tuesday, 5:30 - 6:30pm until Tue 17 Nov 2026
The Friends of Battye Inc. present a series of talks throughout the year on Western Australian historical topics. These talks are open to members and the wider community
Writing and publishing across cultural fault lines
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PEN Perth presents publisher and cultural leader Louise Adler in conversation with author and activist Sisonke Msimang to explore the pressures and possibilities facing writers, publishers and readers.
Getting started
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Every 3 months on the last Wednesday, 11am - 1pm until Wed 25 Nov 2026
Do you want to find out about your family history and don’t know where to start? Let us help you at one of our free and friendly talks at the State Library and we’ll show you.
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.