What are the opening hours?

Wednesday 11am - 6pm Thursday 11am - 6pm Friday 11am - 6pm Saturday 11am - 3pm

Melbourne Art Library

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Melbourne, VIC
Melbourne Art Library

A new, not-for-profit art library. Providing specialised resources to all; centring local practice. Collaboratively built.

Donate now -> https://australianculturalfund.org.au/projects/library-launch-mal/

18/08/2026

The final Craft Club of the Winter! Come by the library for a cozy afternoon of making, chatting and collaborating.

The final Craft Club of the Winter! Come by the library for an cozy afternoon of making, chatting and collaborating.

Whatever your craft of choice is, Craft Club is open to all!

Come down and learn a new skill, share expertise, or just work on your projects in the company of other crafters.

Come and go as you please - we’ll be around from 1PM. Limited supplies may be available, but please BYO supplies, projects, and WIPs!

16/08/2026

Join us at Melbourne Art Library on Friday 28 August for short form writing/ poetry reading night.

Hear writers share everything from comics and poetry to short stories and more.
 Free drinks and light snacks provided.
 Friday 28 August
7–9pm
Melbourne Art Library

Please arrive on time. We will endeavour to start soon after 7pm.

Tickets linked in Bio

Readers
Benedicte O’Leary-Rutherford
Esther Carlin
Katerina Poupounaki
Kikelomo 🦆
Una Healy
Ruvanya
Tina Cartwright
Mark Perry
Maria Mayela
Simon

04/08/2026

Melbourne Art Library’s volunteer-run Operations Committee is currently looking for an additional Grants and Development Coordinator. If you’re passionate about increasing MAL’s supporter base and collaborating with creative and like-minded people, we’re keen to hear from you!

For more information on the Grants & Development Coordinator key responsibilities, please see the application form linked in our bio.

This is an exciting time to take on a role at MAL, as we are settling into our long-term home with a well established collection and audience. Volunteer positions allow for, and encourage, creativity, initiative and experimental thinking. Coordinators play an active role in shaping the organisation.

24/07/2026

Melbourne Art Library is having a book sale!

📚📚📚

Come down to Schoolhouse Studios on Sunday 2nd August between 11am-3pm for an afternoon of art and book browsing.

Have a flick through our art book selection, ranging from but not going over $1-$5 (unless stated).

📍Schoolhouse Studios, 28 Victoria Street, Merribek (Coburg)

21/07/2026

Craft Club continues to brave the winter weather. Join us for a warm afternoon of making, sharing and learning.

Craft Club continues to brave the winter weather. Join us for a warm afternoon of making, sharing and learning.

Whatever your craft of choice is, Craft Club is open to all!

Come down and learn a new skill, share expertise, or just work on your projects in the company of other crafters.

Come and go as you please - we’ll be around from 1PM. Limited supplies may be available, but please BYO supplies, projects, and WIPs!

27/06/2026

Writers, we’re back.

Our monthly Writers Group returns on Wednesday 2 July.

Whether you’re just starting out, deep into a project, or trying to write your way through a creative block, this is a space to share work, exchange feedback (if you’d like), meet other writers, or simply enjoy dedicated time to write alongside others.

Each session includes:
✍️ One hour of sharing, discussion and optional feedback
📖 One hour of focused writing time

All writers and all experience levels are welcome.

Places are limited, so be sure to register early via the link in bio.

26/06/2026

Choose your impact by supporting MAL’s greatest need! ⭐

Melbourne Art Library is powered by a vibrant community of 60+ staff and volunteers who keep our doors open, our collections accessible and our programs thriving.

⭐ Show your support with a tax-deductible donation via the link in our bio ⭐

Your donation will support essential work behind-the-scenes, including operational costs, software and subscriptions, essential facility upgrades to our reading room at the former Coburg Train Station, and dedicated staffing to sustain and grow the library. Help strengthen a vital resource for artists, researchers and the art-curious.

Your help in any form is greatly appreciated!

24/06/2026

Choose your impact by supporting creative opportunities at MAL! 🎨

Beyond a resource, MAL is a creative hub and community. The collection is illuminated through programs fostering the production and appreciation of Naarm/Melbourne art and design through experimentation and exchange.

🎨 Show your support with a tax-deductible donation via the link in our bio 🎨

Your support will help provide regular paid creative opportunities and launch new programs including residencies, professional development, publications and commissions. We have been grateful to work with exceptional artists, researchers and designers to the library including Jahkarli Romanis, Peter Tyndall, Kate Rhodes, Jessie French, Office, Jenna Lee, Scotty So, Ezz Monem and Mia Boe.

Your help in any form is greatly appreciated!

22/06/2026

Choose your impact by sponsoring a book at MAL! 📚

Melbourne Art Library provides a specialised collection of 3,500+ art and design texts free to borrow, and view online. Spanning rare and hard-to-find materials focusing on creative practice in Naarm/Melbourne and Australasia, the library fills a gap in local collections by prioritising access and community-led collection development activities.

📚 Show your support with a tax-deductible donation, or by contributing to the Melbourne Art Ephemera Archive, via the link in our bio 📚

To suggest a book to add to our collective shelves, please leave a comment with your donation!

Sponsoring a book will help MAL build greater depth in key areas of the collection, including architecture, independent publications and art books. You can also add to the Melbourne Art Ephemera Archive, now home to 2,000+ digitised items.

Your help in any form is greatly appreciated!

20/06/2026

Choose your impact by supporting collection care at MAL! 🧡

Behind every book on our shelves is a dedicated effort to conserve, catalogue and share local art and design histories for enjoyment and research by our creative community.

From free memberships, convenient returns, pop-up collections, research support, international standard-catloguing and access via Trove, our knowledgeable Collection Coordinators are committed to making our unique resource available to all.

🧡 Show your support with a tax-deductible donation via the link in our bio 🧡

Your donation will fund essential conservation and cataloguing materials, collection management software, training and ongoing librarianship activities at MAL to maintain the collection into the future.

Your help in any form is greatly appreciated!

-Dedicated collections team
-NLA significance assessment
-Libero cataloguing
-New cataloguing system
-MARC-1 international industry standards
-Free borrowing memberships
-Return books at Blindside and MAL
-Curated pop-up collections for local exhibitions
-Your support will provide essential software, collection care materials to help conserve the collection and make it accessible to all

Address

Room 619 Level 6 Nicholas Building 37 Swanston Street
Melbourne, VIC
3000

Opening Hours

Wednesday	11am - 6pm
Thursday	11am - 6pm
Friday	11am - 6pm
Saturday	11am - 3pm

Website

http://www.melbourneartlibrary.org.au/

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