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

Opening Hours

The PMI is open 10-3 Tuesday to Friday and running click and collect 9:30-4:30 Tuesday to Friday. We are closed Monday and weekends. The PMI will be closed over the Christmas break from Thursday 23 December 2021 and will reopen on Wednesday 12 January 2022.

Click and collect update

We apologise for any inconvenience.

2020 Annual Report now available

The 2020 Annual Report is now available at the following link.

2020 AGM annual report

Opening hours, COVID safe

We are open Tuesdays to Thursdays 9.30am to 4.30pm and Mondays for 'click and collect'. When you arrive at PMI please register at the front desk using Service Victoria's QR code app or we can register you. Hand sanitiser and wipes are placed on tables around the library for your use.
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

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’.

Opening hours

The PMI is open 10-3 Tuesday to Friday and running click and collect 9:30-4:30 Tuesday to Friday. We are closed Monday and weekends.

Contact Us

Please contact us on (03) 9510 3393 during business hours or email library@pmi.net.au.

Email: email us here

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