Media releases

The State Library of Queensland's South Bank building will temporarily close to the public due to the extreme weather conditions currently being experienced in central Brisbane.

Acting State Librarian Rory McLeod said the closure would take effect from 4pm, 11 January, and will remain closed on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 January.

Updates on the closure and reopening will be available to the public through the State Library website www.slq.qld.gov.au and through our hotline 1800 145002.

The State Library of Queensland is urging the state’s flood affected residents and business owners to take some simple steps before throwing out damaged photographs, books, papers, videos and cassette tapes.

The black&write! Indigenous Writing and Editing Project was launched on Sunday 22 August at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair. The project is a partnership between the State Library of Queensland and editor and mentor Sue Abbey. The project comprises the kuril dhagun Indigenous Writing Fellowships and the kuril dhagun Indigenous Editing Mentorships.

See a provocative piece of theatre, listen to stories from Indigenous elders and get creative at the State Library during NAIDOC Week, 4 – 11 July.
State Librarian Lea Giles-Peters said, “This is a time for reflection and celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and presents an opportunity to recognise the contributions of Indigenous Australians in various fields.

An extraordinary assemblage of windmill, strange moving parts and projections is guaranteed to spark imaginations in WindWells: channelling + divining, an installation opening at the State Library of Queensland, Saturday 26 June.
Queensland artists Pat Hoffie and Stefan Purcell have delved into some of the curiosities of Queensland’s past to create an artwork that echoes turn-of-the-century fascination with science and magic.

National youth arts representatives will converge on the State Library of Queensland’s new digital cultural centre, The Edge, in June for the 2010 Young People and the Arts Australia (YPAA) National Symposium.

Tickets are now on sale for Changing Habitats: are children and young people democratising culture?.The three day symposium, to be held from 8-10 June as part of QPAC’s Out of the Box festival, features prominent national and international industry leaders.

The oldest book in Queensland, one of the world’s smallest books and 18th century treasures printed on silver and ivory are coming to the Mackay region.

From 12 to 16 April, selected pieces from the State Library of Queensland’s Australian Library of Art (ALA), will travel to Mackay, Bowen, Proserpine and Moranbah for the first time, taking visitors on a 4000 year journey through the history of the book.

Ms Bligh said the $10.15 million upgrade of the facility meant young Queenslanders could now explore their creative potential in an innovative and visionary digital realm.

“The Edge, as both a physical and digital facility, has the capacity to allow collaboration across the world, acting as a platform for local, national and international innovation and experimentation,” she said.

A powerful new public artwork by Queensland artist Fiona Foley now adorns the corridors of the State Library of Queensland, revealing a complex story of opium addiction, Aboriginal people and Government control in 19th century Australia.