Welcome to the Prahran Mechanics' Institute (est. 1854), a community owned and run library specialising in the history of Victoria, Australia.
We have over 20,000 books for loan and offer a professional information service to members.

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Latest News


We wish all our members a very happy and safe Christmas and New Year.
The PMI Library will close for Christmas at 4.30pm on Friday 18 December 2009 and will reopen at 9.30am on Monday 4 January 2010.
The return book chute will be closed over this period so be sure to organise your holiday reading and book renewals and returns beforehand.

 

 

Location

The library is located at 140 High Street, Prahran (Melway reference 2L H12 and 58 D6).
It is close to: Prahran Station (Sandringham line) Chapel Street trams (Nos. 78, 79) High Street tram (No. 6)
There is 1 hour parking on High Street, and 3 hour parking on Thomas Street.
During university semesters it can be difficult to find parking, but on weekends the carpark on the corner of High and Thomas Streets (next door to the west of the library) is free to the public.

Opening Hours

Monday-Friday: 9.30am-4.30pm
Saturday: 9.30am-1.00pm
except for public holidays and the Christmas-New Year period.

There is a return book chute at the front of the library, west of the main entrance, for after-hours returns.

Objectives


The objectives of the PMI are as follows:
  • To provide a lending and reference library specialising in works about the history of Victoria.
  • To organise educational activities relating to the history of Victoria.
  • To encourage and facilitate the study of history, particularly the history of Victoria.


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