2017...115 years of collecting at SLQ

As 2017 wraps up, we’re feeling reflective about the busy year it was at SLQ.

2017 marked 115 years since SLQ officially opened — then as the Public Library of Queensland — and the collections were made available to the public.

In those 115 years, our collections have grown and changed in format, and the way the items are accessed and enjoyed continues to evolve with technology.

Fittingly, this year our programs focused on the theme of Digital Futures, as we examined what the future holds for our lives, work and play. The Digital Futures Lab was a central hub of activity where people could experience new technologies and possibilities, and share their visions and expectations for the future.

As part of the Digital Futures program, we enjoyed fascinating and thought-provoking discussions in the popular Queenslanders in Conversation series. If you’ve got some relaxation time over the festive season, you might enjoy catching up on the webcasts for these sessions.

We saw beautiful exhibitions and showcases in the Philip Bacon Heritage Gallery, kuril dhagun and APDL, including Barambah<>Cherbourg<>Art<>Craft; Tradition Now; Keepsakes of war; Freedom Then, Freedom Now; Don’t Just Count Us, Let Us Count!; Duty and Care; Jabu Birinny (land & sea); The Salon Electric; and Magnificent Makers.

We enjoyed great talks, including the Portrait of an Artist series, the Game Changers series, the UQ Architecture lectures, the 2017 Tony Fitzgerald Lecture, fortnightly sessions in the Business Studio, and more.

We held workshops on family history and craft, helped people get hands-on at The Edge, hosted opportunities for young writers, presented lots of activities for children and families…and lots more in between.

We’ve worked with some amazing partners to deliver programs through Indigenous Knowledge Centres (IKCs) and public libraries. And something exciting that’s just launched is our Google Arts & Culture page — a wonderful partnership with Google that allows for virtual exploration through the SLQ building via Museum View, as well as the ability to explore some treasured collection items at in incredible detail. Something to check out through the festive season, perhaps!

At the heart of all of this is our collections — the important stories of Queenslanders as time goes by.

We’ve had a great time this year, and we hope you have too. If you loved the opportunities at SLQ this year, please consider donating to Queensland Library Foundation to help us deliver free programs for all Queenslanders to enjoy.

Thank you for your support throughout 2017. We look forward to seeing you again in 2018!