In the Year 2 Neighbourhood this week we went to the State Library of Victoria on Swanston Street. The purpose of our excursion was to visit the World of the Book Exhibition to better understand the use of writing, and to observe the Tai Snaith installation. Despite the grey skies and the possibility of rain, we cheerfully headed off on our fourth grand adventure of the year on the Number 1 tram. As we traveled south down Lygon Street, then onto Swanston Street we noticed some important Melbourne landmarks, such as the Melbourne Cemetery, lots of tall buildings, RMIT (where Wesley’s mum works), Alannah’s old house, Ziyu’s current abode, some local bakeries and Op shops and Melbourne University.
Once we arrived at the library we walked to the front steps and were lucky enough to meet the artists of the mural which had just been unveiled along the main entrance of the library; Taylor Cole and Nikita Castellano. We were also privileged to talk with Aunty Carolyn who is a very important Boon Wurrung Elder. Inside the library we saw some very old books. Some were hundreds of years old (Ozzy). We also saw some old scrolls (Sophie), a 4000 year old tablet which according to Anna (the exhibition’s curator) is the oldest object in the library (Wesley and Maggie), a miniature book collection (Archie M), the chess collection (Ziyu) and the tall dome (Owen C). I liked (verb + ed) the very inspiring comics (Sebastien). I enjoyed looking at Ned Kelly’s death mask, it made me feel intrigued (Bessie).
When we got back we felt that it was a very enjoyable, amazing and astonishing experience (Scarlett H, Izzy and Sammy).
The Year 2 neighbourhood.