Skip to main content
state library of queensland
Blog
John Oxley Library

Literature Map of Queensland – launched during John Oxley Library Open Day 2011

By JOL Admin | 9 June 2011

The John Oxley Library Open Day gave us the opportunity to showcase some of the Library’s most rare, beautiful and topical items. It also provided an official and very timely stage to launch State Library’s exciting new Literature Map of Queensland website.

  

  

The Literature Map of Queensland provides an online gateway into the John Oxley Library’s rich collection of imaginative writing (i.e. writing either set in Queensland or about Queensland icons). To find out what stories, poems, plays or songs have a connection with any place of interest in Queensland, simply rest your cursor on the appropriate marker located on the digital map of Queensland. An information bubble pops up providing titles as well as interesting snippets of information about those works. Entries for novels, short stories and plays also contain plot summaries, while poems and songs contain a stanza or chorus.

All titles are linked to State Library’s catalogue making it possible to place a request for any item you would like to view during your next visit to the John Oxley Library Reading Room.

This project is in its infancy and will always be a work-in-progress because of the abundance of material that is already available, as well as that yet to be written and published. We invite you to email us at heritage@slq.qld.gov.au to notify of relevant titles that aren’t already captured on this site. (N.B. this site does not capture scholarly research about Queensland places. Its scope is purely imaginative literature.)

During the launch two Queensland authors, who feature on the Literature Map of Queensland, entertained visitors in the John Oxley Library Reading Room. Bush poet, Rhana Maxwell, read her poem, ‘The Pub at Hannah Creek’ and singer/songwriter, Ken McDonald, sang two of his songs, ‘All the Way to Mapoon’ and, ‘Hervey Bay’. (Members of the audience were called on to provide percussion accompaniment!)

Bush poet, Rhana Maxwell, recites one of her poems, ‘The Pub at Hannah Creek’ from her anthology, Random Rhymes : poems from the bush and everyday life. (Photo by Geoff Wharton.)

Bush poet, Rhana Maxwell, recites one of her poems, ‘The Pub at Hannah Creek’ from her anthology, Random Rhymes : poems from the bush and everyday life. (Photo by Geoff Wharton.)

Singer/songwriter, Ken McDonald, sings ‘All the Way to Mapoon’ from his album, Pigdogs, Orchids and Paraburdoo. (Photo by Geoff Wharton.)

Singer/songwriter, Ken McDonald, sings ‘All the Way to Mapoon’ from his album, Pigdogs, Orchids and Paraburdoo. (Photo by Geoff Wharton.)

Afterwards, members of the audience invite Rhana to do an encore reading. (Photo by Geoff Wharton.)

Afterwards, members of the audience invite Rhana to do an encore reading. (Photo by Geoff Wharton.)

 

 

Ken McDonald (second from right) chats with library patrons and presents Queensland Authors Librarian, Leanne Day (centre – with eyes closed!) with his latest CD, The Blue Waves: Curious Dilemmas. This CD will also be housed in the John Oxley Library’s collection. (Photo by Geoff Wharton.)

Please visit the Literature Map of Queensland and let us know what you think!

Dr Leanne DayQueensland Authors Librarian

Comments

Your email address will not be published.

We welcome relevant, respectful comments.

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
We also welcome direct feedback via Contact Us.
You may also want to ask our librarians.