World of the Book

The State Library’s free “World of the Book” exhibition reopened on October 13 with more than 300 new items, including some never shown before.

The exhibition in the library’s Dome Galleries explores the history of writing, books and book design with items dating from 2050 BC to the present day.

The exhibition showcases some of the rare, beautiful and historically significant books held inside the library’s vast collection of more than five million items.

“Our collection spans thousands of years – from one of the world’s first written texts to the digital present – and tells us so much about human history,” said exhibition curator Dr Anna Welch. Some highlights of the exhibition are:

• The medieval art of dying – includes a 1430 prayer book;
• A south-east Asian Muslim manuscript ; and
• Books by women that have changed the world.

www.slv.vic.gov.au/whats-on/world-book