PMI Victorian History Library Inc. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids PMI Victorian History Library Inc. |
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| Country | Australia |
| Type | Mechanics' Institute |
| Established | 1854 |
| Location | 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, Victoria |
| Coordinates | 37°50′59″S 144°59′29″E / 37.84972°S 144.99139°E |
The PMI Victorian History Library Inc. is a special library in Prahran, Victoria, Australia. It used to be called the Prahran Mechanics' Institute. This library is owned by the community and members pay a small fee to borrow books.
Its main goal is to collect books and resources about every part of Victoria's history. This includes information about different towns and all kinds of historical events in the state. The library has moved a few times. It was on Chapel Street from 1854 to 1915, then on High Street from 1915 to 2014. Now, it's located at 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran.
The PMI Victorian History Library is one of the oldest Mechanics' Institutes still around in Victoria. It's also one of only six that still lend out books. For a long time, it was special because it had its own law from Parliament. But in 2022, it became a regular incorporated association.
This Institute also helped start the Prahran Technical School. This school later became one of Australia's top art schools.
Contents
A Look Back: The Library's Story
The Prahran Mechanics' Institute began in 1854 on Chapel Street in Prahran. Local people gave money and donations to start it. The idea was to create a place for learning and community. It offered lectures, discussions, a library, reading rooms, classes, and even a museum.
How Prahran Technical School Began
In 1908, the Prahran Mechanics' Institute started the Prahran Technical School. This school first operated on Chapel Street. Later, in 1915, it moved to High Street and stayed there until 1971. The High Street building is very important. In 2004, it was added to the Victorian Heritage Register because of its design and history.
Focusing on Victorian History
Since 1981, the PMI library has focused on Victorian history. It became a special research collection. It is the only lending collection of its kind in Australia. This means you can borrow books about Victorian history from here.
In 2009, the Prahran Mechanics' Institute sold its building on High Street. Swinburne University of Technology bought it. The PMI then bought a new building nearby on St Edmonds Road. The library moved to this new location in 2015.
The current PMI Victorian History Library at 39 St Edmonds Road officially opened on May 30, 2015. The Mayor of Stonnington, Cr Melina Sehr, and PMI President Cr John Chandler OAM, opened it. A group of seven volunteers runs the PMI today.
What You Can Find: The Collections
In the early 1980s, the Prahran Mechanics’ Institute decided to focus its collection. They wanted to have books mainly about the history of Victoria. This Victorian history collection is unique because it's the only one of its kind that the public can borrow from. Now, the collection has grown to include items about Australia and other Australian states too.
The PMI building also holds special collections from other groups. These include the Mechanics’ Institute of Victoria, the Cinema and Theatre Historical Society, and the Victorian Railway History Library.
The library has more than 40,000 books you can borrow. It also offers professional help to members who are looking for information. This makes it a great place to research the history of Victoria and Australia. The collection keeps growing steadily as they buy new items and receive donations.
What the Library Offers: Services
The library has a huge collection of books about Victorian and Australian history. You can borrow these books or use them for reference. Besides books, the library also holds events, workshops, and competitions. These activities help people learn more about history.
Following the old traditions of mechanics' institutes, the PMI offers educational programs. These include free public lectures and workshops. The library also used to have its own publishing service. This service helped authors publish books about Victorian history.
Other Connections
- Mechanics' Institutes of Victoria
- Cinema and Theatre Historical Society
