Victoria’s State Library is undergoing a massive transformation with internal spaces being reconfigured and others reopened and repurposed, including the glorious Queens Hall. The design of the refurbishment is a collaboration between Australasian design firm Architectus and Scandinavia’s Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. The first stage of the redevelopment was completed in late September with the reopening of the library’s Russell Street entrance. The space that was once home to the racehorse Phar Lap has been stripped back and its Victorian grandeur revealed again for the first time in many years. It is the location of our new bookshop space at the library. Our manager there, Tom Hoskins, worked closely with the library and the architects on the vision for the space. Huge windows facing Russell Street flood the space with light, and walls flanked by timber bookshelves are bulging with books; it’s a perfect place for relaxed browsing – it’s almost double the size of our previous space in the library.

Sadly, the impact of online shopping and rising CBD rents has led to the closure of many bookshops in the CBD. While the previous Readings space restricted the range and activities we could offer, this new space firmly establishes Readings State Library as a significant bookshop in the CBD. The new Russell Street Welcome Zone also features a beautiful mural by local artist and children’s author Tai Snaith – it’s a marvel! There’s also Guild Café, run by the Almond Milk Co., and a huge space for reading. This is just the first stage of the redevelopment of one of our most important cultural icons. Funded by the State Government, together with significant philanthropic contributions, this project is inspirational and judging by our new space, one of Melbourne’s greatest public institutions will become one of our most precious and accessible assets. You must get along to see this!

The recent passing of Mirka Mora was very sad; like the Library, Mirka was part of the fabric of Melbourne. For many years, Mirka lived in St Kilda and she did a deal with the then owners of Readings St Kilda, Helen and Jack Halliday, to do a mural for their shop in exchange for books. That mural is still there and if you are in St Kilda, well worth a look. Like Mirka’s other works, it is a vibrant, colourful celebration of life and love. While you are there you can pick up a copy of Mirka & Georges which concentrates on their careers as restaurateurs and their impact on Australia’s culinary and artistic landscapes.

Also out now is a project that is very dear to our hearts; last year the Readings Foundation agreed to fund an Asylum Seekers Resource Centre project for the translation of the children’s book, My Two Blankets, into Arabic, Farsi and Dari. The book, by Irena Kobald and Freya Blackwood, is a moving story about the refugee experience. The translations sit side by side with the English text and have come up beautifully. The books will make wonderful presents.

Also, if you work in the not-for-profit area promoting literacy and reading, your organisations may be eligible for a grant from the Readings Foundation. The upcoming round of grants for 2019 are now open and will close at 5pm on Monday 15 October, 2018. For more details please see here.

Mark Rubbo is the managing director of Readings.