Welcome

The PMI Library is a community owned and run library specialising in the history of Victoria, Australia.

We have over 30,000 books for loan and a professional information service for our members. We provide a central resource for research into the history of Victoria.

Joining is easy, affordable and open to all.

The PMI is also the home of special collections of the Mechanics’Institutes of Victoria, the Cinema and Theatre Historical Society and The Victorian Railway History Library

The PMI under Stage 4

We are currently closed to our members and the general community. We are, however, running a click and collect service on Wednesdays between 10 am and 4 pm. We look forward to reopening once restrictions allow.

Please contact for further information as to how we can help you during this time.

Due to Stage 4 restrictions we are currently closed to our members, associated groups and the general community. We are operating a virtual library service. Please contact us at library@pmi.net.au or 0432 012 118 for further details.
Indexes

We hold a variety of indexes ranging from Australia’s Army war dead, to Victorian mining accidents.

These indexes provide primary resources - the footsteps of real people that get lost in the broader narrative of more general histories. This information can be invaluable, for family history researchers in particular.

The indexes can be found on the library computers under indexes.
Electronic Databases
Electronic databases are often overlooked, and the PMI’s collection can provide a myriad of information. They range from directories like the Sands and McDougall’s directories which cover addresses in first Melbourne and then Victoria, to hospital indexes, to registries for example cemetery burial registries from a wide variety of Victorian cemeteries, to gazettes for example the police gazette, which covers all sorts of ways that people came into contact with the law. These are just examples of some of these sorts of resources and they can be invaluable as they can give you firsthand primary information.

Latest News


		
		
				
					
				    			
					        				
							            			
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								Sep 20
							
											    			
					    				
						Ephemera Zoom Roadshow, Wednesday 30 September at 7.30pm    			    
						    				
							                        
								Announcement, Events, News, PMI Victorian History Library							
												        			 
							            			
								                				
									                                    
										Join us on Wednesday 30 September at 7.30pm for our 'Ephemera Roadshow'. Bring along an item of interest for 'show...									                				
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								18            			
								Sep 20
							
											    			
					    				
						Our ‘virtual’ library service    			    
						    				
							                        
								Announcement, News, PMI Victorian History Library							
												        			 
							            			
								                				
									                                    
										Our 'virtual' library service keeps you connected to as much of our resources as possible. This includes provision of electronic...									                				
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								17            			
								Sep 20
							
											    			
					    				
						September events: Zooming into ‘Click and collect’ and more…    			    
						    				
							                        
								Announcement, Events, News, PMI Victorian History Library							
												        			 
							            			
								                				
									                                    
										We are very excited to be returning to 'Click and collect' and to be continuing with our online events using...									                				
									Read More

Wanting to renew your items?

Click on the Catalogue tab, to access the member login area. Enter your email address and password then select from the pull down menu ‘Loans and Reservations’.

Current Opening Hours

Due to Stage 4 restrictions we are currently closed but we are now offering a ‘click and collect’ service between 10.00am and 4.00pm on Wednesdays commencing 16 September 2020.

We are also offering a ‘virtual’ library service, for example scanning and emailing / posting extracts from our collection on Wednesdays.

Please contact us for further details on how we can help you.

Contact Us

Telephone (Mobile): 0432 012 118
or email us here

Social Media

Facebook • Twitter • PMI Library Blog