Libraries in Brisbane

Libraries closed due to floods

Brisbane City Council libraries

Fairfield Library remains closed due to flood damage. For more information, please visit the Brisbane City Council website.

State Library of Queensland

You must visit the State Library of Queensland.

Next to the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) in the cultural precinct at South Bank, the State Library has fantastic facilities for everyone.

Go online at public access terminals
See an exhibition
Watch a film
Do research
Visit the bookshop

You can use the many virtual services of the National Library of Australia too.

University libraries

The huge resources of Brisbane’s universities are available for public use.

QUT library – anyone can visit the library and use the reference materials and items on the shelves. If you want to borrow (unless you are studying or working at QUT) you need to become an associate member. Alumni (people who graduated from QUT) can become a borrowing member at a cheaper rate. QUT has four libraries: Caboolture, Kelvin Grove, Gardens Point and the Law Library.
Griffith University - the public can also use the resources of all Griffith University libraries by paying for membership.
UQ library - it is free for the general public to use any of the on-site collections. There are branches at St Lucia, Ipswich and Gatton (plus the teaching hospitals). The general public can borrow from University of Queensland but it is not cheap. If possible, see if you are eligible for cheaper membership as a UQ graduate or staff at one of the UQ teaching hospitals (which includes Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Royal Children's Hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Mater Hospital).

The libraries of Brisbane North Institute of TAFE are not open to the public, only students and staff.

Specialist libraries

Department of Natural Resources and Water libraries - locations in the city, Woolloongabba and Indooroopilly. The public can access the resources on weekdays and you can arrange loans to be transferred to a public library
Queensland Family History Society library - you must be a member or pay an entry fee. Specialises in genealogical materials
Mount Coot-tha Council library - specialises in resources relevant to astronomy and plants
Supreme Court Library – is a specialised law library with extensive printed and online legal resources. It is open to people in the legal profession, students and litigants in person (people defending their own case). Open weekdays 9am – 5pm in Brisbane’s Supreme Court Building.

Brisbane City Council libraries

Libraries open on Sundays:

Brisbane Square
Carindale
Chermside
Garden City
Indooroopilly
Mt Coot-tha

All Brisbane City Council libraries are open on Saturdays.

There are 33 libraries, plus a mobile service to outlying areas.

Brisbane Square library - is Council's library in the CBD. It has an automated book shelving machine, great facilities including lounging chairs, listening stations and public meeting rooms. There’s a well-designed children’s section and windows with views across the river.

Brisbane City Council libraries - Did you know?

CDs and DVDs are for loan at all libraries
Once you have a library card, borrow from any Council library. Children can get their own library cards too. All card holders can borrow up to 20 items for one month
You can return your Council items to any library, regardless of which branch you borrowed it from
You can borrow magazines
There are events at the libraries, such as shows, talks and book clubs. Find out what’s happening in your local library
Read the daily papers (not for loan)
You can hire a meeting room
Ask the librarian for help and get help with homework

Find out lots more about Brisbane City Council libraries.

Logan City libraries

There are nine branches in Logan City - Beenleigh, Greenbank, Jimboomba, Logan Central, Logan Hyperdome, Logan North, Logan Village, Logan West and Marsden.

Moreton Bay Regional Council libraries

There are 18 public libraries in Moreton Bay Regional Council including Albany Creek, Caboolture, Strathpine and North Lakes.

Redland City Council libraries

Redland City Council has seven branch libraries and one mobile library.

Comments

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Anonymous from Brisbane says:

It is so hard to find what your looking for!!!!!!!!!

Posted 22 September 2010 - 7:34am

Marion Fancey from England says:

Please can you help me URGENTLY.

I suffer from aerophobia so cannot fly and have planned and saved for ages to come to Brisbane by ship. My grandparents came to Brisbane in the 1800's - I think they eloped. They were married in Brisbane and my uncle and aunt were born there and my father would have been and hence myself, had the family not returned to England because my grandmother's father was ill.

He died shortly after they returned in 1892 and sadly so too did my grandfather, aged only 40 and also my uncle who was only 6 at the time.

My grandmother then stayed in England, but I am desperate to see where my grandparents were married, Where they lived and to find out where my grandfather worked, but I can't find anyone to help me and I'm now desperate as my ship leaves in 2 weeks' time, although I don;t arrive in Brisbane until February,

I did contact the Brisbane family research society and was told that one of their researchers would contact me, but she never did. I have tried again, but still nothing - I guess they're just not interested in me because it is places I need to see, not finding people.

My grandparents travelled to Brisbane on the ss Roma, a year apart in 1883 and 1884, when each of them reached 21.

A very nice man at your births deaths and marriages records office hleped me some time ago and I sent to Queensland for the certificates.

My grandparents Isabella Cowan and Edwin Timmins were married on 6th June 1885 at:-

Millport Cottage, Bulimba Road 'according to the rites of the Presbyterian Church'. Does this mean that this is or was a church, or would it have been a private residence - and is it still standing and if so would I be able to visit it?

I have no full details of their residences at the time, just Bulimba for my grandfather and Indooroopilly for my grandmother. My grandfather is down as a fireman - could I trace his employment record somehow? It could have been on trains of course?

I have details for births of my uncle etc, but will wait tohear from you before loading you with any more information.

I have only one day in Brisbane and am absolutely desperate to see as much as possible.

PLEASE come back to me a.s.a.p. and let me know whether you can help or not and if not then do you know anyone who can.

I am away for Christmas as from 23rd lunchtime (UK time) until 27th lunchtime (UK time)

I look forward so much to hearing from you.

Marion Fancey (nee Timmins)

Posted 22 December 2010 - 6:11am

Paul from ourbrisbane says:

Good morning Marion,

I've done some detective work to try and assist you with your visit to Brisbane. Unfortunately I'm not an historian and haven't been able to uncover a lot, but I do hope this information helps in some way.

A Presbyterian Church was built in Bulimba in 1881, which predates the marriage of your grandparents. Unfortunately there is no Presbyterian Church in Bulimba today. The building may still exist, but I haven't had any luck trying to find the actual street address. The street address you mentioned (Bulimba Road) doesn't exist today. There is a Bulimba Parade and a Bulimba Street, but unfortunately there are no churches at either of these locations today. I haven't had any success locating a 'Millport Cottage' either. It might be worth having a look along Bulimba Parade and Bulimba Street for a private residence called 'Millport Cottage'. Often people retain the original names of these properties - even if the properties have been extensively renovated or even demolished.

When you visit Bulimba you will find two lovely old churches on Oxford Street in Bulimba, but unfortunately neither of them were Presbyterian in 1885.

1) Bulimba Uniting Church - 216 Oxford Street (on the roundabout) - this church was built in 1866 and was the Brisbane Primitive Methodist Chapel when your grandparents married.

2) St Johns the Baptist Anglican Church - Oxford Street (cnr Jamieson Street) - this church was built in 1888 after your grandparents married - this is the local church of former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

I have found a record showing that the Reverend at the Presbyterian Church in Bulimba in 1894 was Rev. J. M'Queen. This is ten years after the marriage of your grandparents, but it's possible he was the local Reverend in 1885.

You could try contacting the Presbyterian Church of Queensland. They may have more information about the Bulimba Church and/or Rev. J. M'Queen. Their contact phone number is 00617 3251 4100. If you phone after you arrive in Brisbane just ring the last eight digits of that number.

I sincerely hope you have some success when you visit, and we would love to hear from you if you do.

Kind regards,
Paul from the ourbrisbane.com team

Posted 22 December 2010 - 10:04am

Tim from Brisbane from Brisbane says:

I hope this is of use. Bulimba used to include land on the north side of Brisbane River which is now part of Newstead. I have a 1966 street directory which shows this.

A search of the Brisbane Courier newspaper shows that a Millport Cottage at Stratton Road (now Stratton Street) Bulimba (now Newstead) was for sale. The classified ad is below. It has some errors due to the character recognition software.

The entire area is now commercial with no houses left. Aerial image is attached if you copy it into your search engine.

There is a near by presbyterian church in amelia St Fortitude Valley.

http://www.nearmap.com/?ll=-27.45188,153.041922&z=18&t=h&nmd=20100912

Ad from 13 May 1878
JAMES R. DICKSON has been favored with
instructions to sell by auction, at his Mart, Queen-street, on MONDAY, May 13, at Eleven o'clock,
That valuable Freehold Property, situated
on the STRATTON-ROAD, known as
MILLPORT COTTAGE,
comprising the Land known as Allotment 120 of Eastern Suburban Portion 57, Parish of North Brisbane, having an Area of 16 8-10ths Perches, more or less.

The house contains four rooms with verandahs (back and front), and detached kitchen, is commodiously constructed, and in excellent preservation.

The situation is most eligible being well elevated in a highly respectable neighborhood, commanding a splendid view of the river, possessing an aspect exposed to tho salubrious north-eastern breezes of summer, and having omnibusses passing the door half-hourly throughout the day, while the distance from the heart of the city is but a few minutes' walk.

'The public are invited to inspect this choice property, which the proprietor has decided to sell absolutely, and which, therefore, presents on excellent opportunity of investment, -

Title under the Real Property Act, ' ..'.
Terms at Sale. 0197
THURSDAY, MAY 10.
UNRESERVED AND ABSOLUTE SALE

Posted 1 January 2011 - 2:08pm

Zoe Thompson from Oxley says:

I CANT FIND WHATS HAPPENING IN OUR LOCAL LIBRARY!!!!! >:| WHy is is so hard? I just want to know what times and dates story time etc. is on for children!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GET A BETTER WEBSITE >:|

Posted 27 January 2011 - 9:42am

ourbrisbane.com says:

Hi Zoe,

We have a link to local libraries towards the bottom of the above article. It takes you through to this Brisbane City Council webpage: http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/facilities-recreation/whats-on/index.htm

Once you're on this page, scroll down and you'll see "Events by library". Click on your local library and the times and dates for story time should appear. We hope this helps. All the best. The ourbrisbane.com team.

Posted 27 January 2011 - 10:31am

Katherine from Algester says:

I have a library card from years ago will it still be current??

Posted 22 February 2011 - 8:00am

book hunter from brisbane says:

How hard is it to find the brisbane library web site where I can actually look on the on line catalogue! I have looked for ten minutes and I still cant find it....!!! Has it simply been moved?

Posted 6 April 2011 - 9:22am

John from Coorparoo says:

It's not that hard book hunter. Try: http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/facilities-recreation/libraries/index.htm

Posted 6 April 2011 - 2:18pm

bookish says:

It defies belief that people can't locate information that is really easily available. I mean, just typing in "brisbane city council library catalogue" into a search engine does the trick and takes all of 30 seconds. Or it's a call to the council to find out. Why on earth someone would then post a comment on another website saying how hard it is to locate - which then takes extra time for someone to respond to anyway - is just beyond me.

Posted 7 April 2011 - 2:02pm

Heidi says:

I am new to the area and was looking for a good children's library. Can anyone recommend the Brisbane City Council library with the best children's selection? I have only been to the Toowong library and it's children's section is quite very small (*and dare I say pitiful) compared to what I am used to. Thanks for any advice!

Posted 7 June 2011 - 10:44am