A dozen members had an enthralling tour of the State Library, enlivened by the witty commentary of our guide Catherine. In the Dome reading room for example, she explained how in Victorian times the senior librarians – known as the “Shushers” - would man the central turret and “Shoosh” anyone whose chatter disturbed readers. They even had a rear-vision mirror giving them ‘eyes in the back of their head’.
The wonderful dome, design to bring ample light to the hall, persisted in leaking and dropping wads of plaster. Readers had to bring umbrellas inside for protection. One reader was knocked out by a wad of plaster, and when revived by a Good Samaritan, punched the man’s jaw imagining the man was his assailant.
We were allowed into the non-public card index rooms with their masses of cards classified in beautiful copper-plate handwriting – an early requirement for librarians. The tour of course included Ned Kelly’s armour, one of four sets created by the Kelly Gang, and now much reproduced in tourism spots.
Catherine told us of the skills and matrimonial foibles of founder Sir Redmond Barry. He had to use government funds to buy every one of the library’s first acquisitions, as books were treasured by owners after surviving the long voyage from England and displacing more practical goods. Melbourne’s State Library was the third in the world to offer free usage, open to working people as well as the toffs.