Under the library lights May

Tara shares with us her experience working as a Visitor Services Officer at State Library of Queensland. 

Could you share a memorable moment you’ve experienced here?

As a Visitor Services Officer, we’re often the first point of contact for people visiting State Library of Queensland, so we experience a wide range of interactions. Sometimes, visitors give us small tokens of appreciation. Just the other day, someone came up and handed us a drawing he had made of the Infozone.  He said, “I’ve just drawn this and wanted to give it to you.” We really treasure these gestures, little drawings or Post-it notes, and we keep them in our shared spaces. 

Is there a particular space in State Library you feel most connected to?

I really like The Red Box. It’s a beautiful spot with river view, and it has the same shade of red as the poinciana trees. I’d recommend everyone check it out, especially if they're new to State Library or travelling to Brisbane.

Is there something you know about State Library that others might not be aware of? 

Yes! One of the best views of the city is from the Talking Circle at kuril dhagun. It's usually a quiet spot, so you can often have it to yourself. From there, you can see Goma, the city, and the surrounding areas. It’s really special!

What do you do when you’re not working here?

I volunteer at a small museum where I help clean objects and storing objects during exhibition periods. I might be at GOMA checking out the art, or in West End browsing op shops or going to the movies. 

If you were a Queensland animal, what would you be? 

I’d be one of the river rats. You don't see them much during the day, but at night they come out and scurry around. They're actually very cute-looking and like to hang out in groups. Of course, you shouldn’t touch them, although I don't think they are violent.

Anna Rowe, an archaeologist and interior designer, visits Open lab to use the Laser cutter and shares some insight into her work.

Could you please tell us a bit about yourself?

I work in Heritage. I’m an archaeologist and interior designer, and I was the recipient of 2025 Digital collections catalyst at State Library of Queensland.

What was your fellowship at State Library?

My fellowship was called Wallflowers: Reimagining Historical Interiors. One of the outcomes of my fellowship was a digital interactive for the Wallflowers project, where I reconstructed a number of historical patterns digitally. You can interact with these designs and explore them in an infinite range of modern colours. It's a way of bringing black-and-white historical patterns to life for modern audiences. My blog posts also step through the research I undertook to uncover the original colours. Through my historical research, I even found samples that matched some of the wallpapers, which allowed me to accurately determine their original colours. It was a very niche project. 

What has brought you in today?

I'm here today at the Edge because I'm interested in taking the design process full circle - from those digital reconstructions to a physical form. I've been using the laser cutter to achieve that, working with timber and experimenting with wood blocking. Wood blocking was actually a traditional method of printing, so I wanted to reinterpret them physically, but with a modern twist using the laser cutter. It was the first time I using the laser cutter after completing the induction, and I'm really happy with how they turned out.

What's something you know about State Library that others might not?

During my fellowship, I had access to the Collections on Level 4, as well as the expertise from the librarians. Being able to access unexpected items was incredibly exciting!  I had the opportunity to view physical wallpaper samples and discover other hidden gems within the Collection. I think that part of library is not everyone is aware of yet. 

If you could take one item home from State Library, what would it be? 

After today, it would have to be the laser cutter. This was my first time using it properly and I was just really impressed what it can do. The facilities at the Edge are wonderful, and it’s such a great space for connecting with digital technology. 

What has brought you to the library today? 

My family and I came here for a walk over the weekend, and we discovered that there was a children's program. So today, we brought our 3.5-month-old baby along to Rhymes Time. It was really fun. I initially thought he might be a bit too young, but he managed to have fun. For the first 15 minutes, he was laughing and fully engaged. It's great early stimulation!

After your first engagement with the activities today, how would you describe State Library in three words?

Inclusive. Modern. Friendly. 

What's the best thing you found in State Library? 

We walked around each level of the building, and I was particularly impressed by the Collections at level 4. The historical records kept there were fascinating! 

What's something you know about state library that others might not know? 

I just discovered that State Library offers Story time in Spanish (Sing n Tell in Spanish)! I haven't come across anything like that before. I’ve seen Spanish books and movies, but this is the first time I’ve found a program like that. It's on next week. So, I'll definitely come back.  

If you could take one item home from State Library, what would you take? 

No, I wouldn't take anything home. I think everything here is meant to be shared. I’m happy to visit, enjoy what’s available, and come back another time. 

Plumber Amal is visiting the Digital Media lab at The Edge.

Can you tell us about what you do?

I’m usually a plumber, but recently I’ve been doing some scaffolding works as well.

What's brought you here today? 

I’m a frequent visitor and come here three to four times a week. I usually come here to study, especially when I was doing my TAFE course, but I’m here today to do some paperwork.

What’s the best things you’ve experienced here at the Edge? 

I’ve met a lot of interesting people here and made many friends. People are always working on different projects and creating things, which is really inspiring. There was a Chinese friend I met here a long time ago. He was working on a university assessment related to automobile manufacturing and car panels. and I helped him with it. Even though he doesn’t come here as often anymore, we are still in touch.

What is something you know about State Library that that others might not? 

There is a patio, a common area, at the back of the Edge building downstairs. On the patio, there is a restricted space with lovely views and two kangaroo statues. I’ve snuck in there before, and it was really nice. Now the door is locked, and there are cameras up there.

If you were a Queensland animal, what would you be and why? 

I would be a koala, because they always look so relaxed. They sleep whenever they want - I wish I could be that chill and lazy.