News
News
30 September 2025
Better Beginnings baby packs feature a brand-new wordless book, Baby Days, by award-winning Western Australian author Renae Hayward and illustrator Rebecca Mills.
Western Australian Premier's Book Awards winners
The winners of the 2025 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards were announced on Friday 29 September at the State Library of Western Australia, sharing a prize pool of $120,000.
Better Beginnings Family Literacy Community Grants are for community groups and libraries that help promote literacy in 0-5 years old and empower families to read, talk, sing, write and play with their child every day. Round 5 applications closed on 26 September 2025.
Stories
Photographs and films
The State Library has partnered with Screenwest for a third season of WA Reflections, a short documentary film series aimed at pairing emerging filmmakers with unique WA stories preserved in the State Library's collection.
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.
Exhibitions
The Food That Shapes Us
Dates
–
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.
Upcoming events
–
Join some of Western Australia’s best-loved children’s authors and illustrators for an unforgettable family event filled with creativity, storytelling and hands-on activities.
Getting started
–
Every 3 months on the last Wednesday, 11am - 1pm until Wed 26 Nov 2025
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.
–
Monthly on the last Wednesday, 2 - 4pm until Wed 26 Nov 2025
–
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.
–
Ever wondered what it takes to create an award-winning photograph? Join 2025 Ilford Orloff Awards winners Richard Goodwin and Johannes Reinhart as they share the images and subjects that continue to fascinate them.
Screening and Panel Conversation
–
A heartwarming story of the life and legacy of disability pioneer, Dr Arnold Cook, his guide dog Dreena and the guide dog movement.
Screening and Panel Conversation
–
In 1975, 18-year-old Geoffoire unexpectedly became housemates with 82-year-old vaudeville legend Effie Fellows. Fifty years later, her memory inspires the performance he’s never had the courage to attempt.
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.