Elspeth Muir - a State Library member
My name is Elspeth and I’m a long time user of the Library.
The first time I came here was with my grandma when I was a kid, and it was really different back then: I remember they had something like a confectionary display made out of sugar! And it seemed there were more books on the shelves. It was the old building in South Bank.
After that, I started coming again when I was in high school. It was pre-internet and I used to search and find the books that I needed. I used the catalogue a lot!
I’m a writer now. Here at State Library I’m working on my PhD about creative writing and I’m also doing freelance copy-writing and editing for UQ. While here, I have also written a book.
At the moment I am coming at least once or twice a week. The library gives me a beautiful space where I can think clearly and sit among other people so I’m not all by myself. I get to ride my bike and it’s very beautiful. It makes a big difference to my mental wellbeing to be able to come to a community place where there are other people working but it is quiet. It’s a pretty amazing place. I just use the free Wi-Fi. Nothing else. I rarely use books here anymore.
During school term times I used to find Level 3 too noisy because of all the students would come and set up everywhere. But since then the library introduced quiet spaces so I usually go there and that’s fine for me. Just sometimes it’s hard to find power points for my laptop!
I really liked the piano music on Friday afternoon. I wish it could be on every Friday again, not only once a month. I guess the only people who speak up are the complainers, people that are really strongly compelled to say how they feel toward the music, and the ones who like it don’t say anything!
You can find Elspeth’s book in our catalogue.
As told to State Library Staff
Fed Pani
Visitor and Information Services
Comments
Your email address will not be published.
We welcome relevant, respectful comments.