Port Phillip Library Service

🌈 Celebrate Pride Month at St Kilda Library 🌈

June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate LGBTQIA+ communities and the importance of inclusive, welcoming spaces. Libraries are proud to support connection, visibility and belonging for all.

👨‍👨‍👧 Rainbow Dads Southside Playgroup
Looking to connect with other gay, bi, trans and q***r dads? This relaxed monthly playgroup, run by Rainbow Dads Victoria, is a great way to build community while the kids play.

🧸 Safe, inclusive and flexible drop-in space
📅 This Saturday 6 June
🕙 10am to 1:30pm
📍 St Kilda Library Community Room

Come along to our St Kilda Library and meet other dads in your area. Pop in for a chat or stay the whole session. Everyone is welcome 💛

All our libraries will be closed on Monday 8 June for the public holiday.

Don’t forget, you can still enjoy our digital collection anytime, with movies, ebooks, comics, audiobooks, music and learning resources all available 24/7.
https://library.portphillip.vic.gov.au/our-collection/explore-digital-collections/

With a long weekend ahead, it is the perfect opportunity to catch up on your Warm Winter Reads and cosy up with a great story.

This Refugee Week, join us for a powerful evening of storytelling with Shankar.

Over thirty years ago, Shankar’s family fled Sri Lanka after his father was detained and interrogated. Seeking safety, they arrived in Australia in 1987, where a welcoming community helped them rebuild their lives with kindness, compassion and hope.

Today, Shankar is a passionate advocate for inclusive communities and serves as a Commissioner for the Victorian Multicultural Commission and Deputy Chairperson of the Migrant Workers Centre.

As part of Refugee Week 2026: A Million Stories, this event celebrates the journeys that shape modern Australia.

📅 Thursday 18 June
🕕 6 pm to 7 pm
📍 St Kilda Library
🎟️ Book now: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1566046

Come and hear Shankar share his story, reflect on resilience, and explore how we can build a more inclusive future together.

Be honest… your “to read” pile needs some attention 😅📚
Good news: The Warm Winter Read starts TODAY!

We recommend you create a little nook at home and we've created this checklist to help you start.
Hot drink? ✅
Cosy blanket? ✅
A really good book? ✅

Our staff are sharing their top picks to help you get started. All you need to do is:
👉 sign up
👉 read a little each day
👉 enjoy the ride

It's as easy as that. Head to our website to sign up and learn more about all the prizes you can win for reading.

Middle Park Library is getting a glow-up! 💅

Middle Park Library will be temporarily closed from 13 April to 30 June while we begin an exciting upgrade to create a more welcoming, functional and engaging space for our community.

All other services in the building will remain open as usual.

✨ What’s being upgraded? ✨
➡️ New furniture, shelving and carpet
➡️ New self‑service kiosk and after‑hours returns bin
➡️ Fresh paint
➡️ Upgraded lighting
➡️ CCTV for improved safety
➡️ And more!

📍 During the closure, you can visit our other branches, including Albert Park Library which is located just four minutes away by car or 10 to 15 minutes by public transport.

This project is proudly co‑funded by City of Port Phillip and the State Government’s Living Libraries Infrastructure Program.

For more information about the upgrade, visit https://bit.ly/4tAxFSg

Mirka Mora mural returns to St Kilda Library with renewed protection and vibrancy 🖼️📚

A much-loved artwork has been restored and reinstalled, marking a new chapter in its lasting legacy. Mirka Mora’s Children’s Mural, created in 1980 during the St Kilda Festival in collaboration with local school children, is now back on display following extensive conservation treatment and the installation of new, custom-designed vitrines.

This important mural forms part of the City of Port Phillip Collection and has been formally recognised as integral to the library’s Heritage Victoria listing, underscoring its significance as a treasured piece of Melbourne’s cultural history.

After decades on display, the mural had developed a range of condition issues, including cracking, paint lifting, fading and accumulated surface grime. Specialist conservators from the University of Melbourne undertook detailed treatment to stabilise the panels, re-adhere fragile paint layers, and carefully clean the surface using highly sensitive techniques.

Now refreshed and rehoused, the Children’s Mural once again welcomes visitors to St Kilda Library, continuing to celebrate community creativity and artistic expression. Its return ensures that this vibrant work will be preserved and enjoyed by future generations for many years to come.

Make sure to check it out next time you’re at St Kilda Library!

To learn more about the City of Port Phillip Collection, visit https://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/explore-the-city/arts-and-entertainment/port-phillip-city-collection/

Join our free health sessions to help you stay active and confident.

Bolton Clarke’s Be Healthy and Active program is offering two free information sessions designed to support your everyday health and wellbeing.

Healthy Bowel
Did you know bowel issues affect many Australians, but can often be prevented or managed? This session explains how the bowel works, what’s considered normal, and practical tips to improve your digestive health.
📍 Port Melbourne Library
🗓 Tuesday 16 June | 11 am to 12 pm

Healthy Bladder
Bladder concerns are very common, with 1 in 4 adults experiencing incontinence. Learn simple strategies and exercises to help improve bladder control and reduce future problems.
📍 St Kilda Library Community Room
🗓 Thursday 18 June | 11 am to 12 pm

🔗 Book your places here: https://bit.ly/4uCvONF

These sessions are friendly, informative, and designed to help you feel more confident in managing your health.

Celebrate Pride Month with a new pre-love-is-loved wardrobe🛍️🌈✨

Young people from the LGBTQIA+ community are invited to bring along their gently used items (and take some new pieces home) at this FREE event!

Come along for an afternoon of affirmation, community, and free snacks.

📆2 to 4 pm Saturday 13 June
📍St Kilda Library
🗣️Clothing items only - no shoes or accessories please.

Learn more and book your spot: https://bit.ly/3Q2nvvp

Winter is here, so it’s the perfect time to slow down, get cosy, and enjoy a good book.

The Warm Winter Read is all about making space for reading in your day. Whether you’re a regular bookworm or just getting started, join thousands of Victorians (16+) in building healthy reading habits this June, July and August.

Reading has some pretty amazing benefits. It can lift your mood, reduce stress, ease loneliness, and even support brain health. It also helps build empathy, boost confidence, and open doors to other cultures and ways of thinking. All you need to do is track the days you read, any book, any format, any time.

Plus, by taking part, you’ll go in the draw to win some great bookish prizes!
The Warm Winter Read runs from 1 June to 31 August 2026.
Ready to get reading?