Baillieu Library


The Baillieu Library is the largest of the eleven branches which constitute the University of Melbourne Library. Its impressive collections are central to teaching, learning, and research in the arts, humanities and social sciences. It is located on the west side of the University's inner city Parkville campus, near the corner of Grattan Street and Royal Parade. The building, designed by John Scarborough and opened in 1959, is named after the Baillieu family, who funded the library through the William Lawrence Baillieu Trust.

History

The Baillieu Library was Australia's first purpose-built university library. It is named after the Baillieu family, who made a significant contribution towards the building of the library through the William Lawrence Baillieu Trust.
John Francis Deighton Scarborough, a lecturer in architecture at the University, was commissioned in 1945 to design the Baillieu Library in 1945. Scarborough also designed the extension to the Old Quadrangle library in 1948. Drawings for the new Library were prepared by Ian Watkins and Barry Axtens. Ken Atkins worked with Axel Lodewycks, the University Librarian at the time, on developing and expanding the library.
In 1952, a site on Professor's Road was chosen for the new library. Prentice Builders began work on the construction in March 1957. The first stage of the building was completed by December 1958 and over the following weeks, 150,000 books were relocated from the Old Quadrangle into their new home. A key feature of this modernist building is the glass curtain wall with 'opaque spandrel' panels that forms the façade overlooking South Lawn on the east side. The Baillieu Library's furnishings included original Grant Featherston designs, including the iconic Mitzi chairs. Much of the original furniture still remains in use.
The Baillieu Library was officially opened by Prime Minister  Robert Menzies  on 21 March 1959. The memorial inscription for the library foyer was unveiled by  Lord Baillieu. A curved wall behind the iconic circular staircase now features the text of the speeches made at the opening ceremony.

Developments and refurbishments

The foundations of the building were designed to allow for further expansion of the building, including the possibility of a tower of up to 19 storeys. While the tower never eventuated, substantial extensions were made to the south-west, north-west and north-east corners of the building between 1969 and 1974, adding over to the library's floorplan. Also added was an aerial link connecting the Baillieu to the new Brownless Biomedical Library.
Considerable alterations to the library have been completed over the years, including:

Facilities

The Baillieu Library consists of six levels, five of which are open to the public. Its general collections are shelved on the lower ground, second and third floors.
CollectionsFacilities
Lower ground floor
  • Computers
  • Self-service printing/ photocopying/ scanning
  • University Mailroom
    • Ground floor
  • High use books
  • Reference collection
  • Library & Student IT service desk
  • Self-checkout machines
  • Returns chutes
  • Hold shelf
  • Dulcie Hollyock Room
  • Project rooms & study booths
  • Computers
  • Self-service printing/ photocopying/ scanning
  • After Hours Zone
    • First floor
  • Special Collections '
  • Computers
  • Self-service printing/ photocopying/ scanning
  • e-Learning Studios
  • Graduate Study Room
  • Assistive Technology Rooms
  • Noel Shaw Gallery
  • Leigh Scott Room
  • Self-service recording pod ''
    • Second floor
  • General collection books '
  • Computers
  • Self-service printing/ photocopying/ scanning
  • Self-checkout machine
  • Assistive technology rooms
    • Third floor
  • General collection books '
  • Special Collections '
  • Self-service printing/ photocopying/ scanning
  • Reading Room '

    • Collections

    The Special Collections form part of the University's Cultural Collections and include:
    By reason of their age, value or uniqueness, items in these collections are housed in special closed-access conditions in order to ensure their care and preservation for future generations. These materials can be requested for research use in the Reading Room, located on the third floor.
    The University of Melbourne Archives was established in July 1960. It collects, preserves and provides access to the historical records of the university, as well as those of Victorian businesses, trade unions, political organisations and community and cultural groups, as well as personal papers of many prominent individuals, including Malcolm Fraser and Germaine Greer. Archives materials are held in off-site storage and can be requested for research use in the Reading Room, located on the third floor.
    The Robert Menzies Collection was donated to the library in 1980. It is a closed-access collection which comprises around 3800 books from the personal library of the former Prime Minister. Items from this collection can be requested for research use in the Reading Room, located on the third floor.
    For many years, the Baillieu Library housed both the Louise Hanson-Dyer Music Library; now integrated with the Lenton Parr Library at the University's Southbank Library; and the East Asian Collection, now housed in the Eastern Resource Centre.

    Art and artefacts

    Since 1959, a sculpture entitled Areopagitica has hung in the building's foyer. The work, by Norma Redpath, was the winning entry in the Baillieu Library mural competition of 1958. It was inspired by John Milton's Areopagitica: A speech for the liberty of unlicensed printing of 1644.
    The Alexandra Printing Press, located on the ground floor, was built in 1888 and donated to the Library by the Friends of the Baillieu in 1976. It is a rare, Australian-made version of the Albion press.
    The Noel Shaw Gallery and other exhibition spaces around the Baillieu feature programmes of exhibitions which highlight significant items from the Library's collections, and from the University's Cultural Collections.

    Friends of the Baillieu Library

    The University of Melbourne Library received its first major bequest over a century ago as George McArthur contributed his outstanding collection to the University. Since then, the Library has attracted strong support and gifts by other Library members and friends, including personal work from collectors' own libraries and inheritances or financial support, allowing it to acquire many notable publications. One of the most significant contributions came from Dr John Orde Poynton, who donated over 15,000 volumes, including many relating to the history of fine printing and the art of the book.
    The Friends of the Baillieu Library was established in 1966 with the purpose of funding the acquisition of new resources; members meet regularly for a programme of cultural and educational events. Support from the Friends is indispensable to the development, preservation, and enhancement of the Library's Rare Book collections.

    In popular culture

    Over the years, the Baillieu Library has featured in numerous films, books and TV series, including the following:

    TV and film