Opening the doors: Libraries, class and community

Public libraries promise free access to knowledge, but who has historically been welcomed, excluded or overlooked? This lecture investigates the social, political and class dynamics that have shaped library access over time and made the library a site of contestation and cultural power. From 19th-century subscription rooms to modern community libraries, and through her own personal journey, Sarah Malik explores how libraries interact with literacy, public good, belonging, civic participation, social mobility and cultural knowledge.

This lecture is part of a series curated by Mitchell Librarian Richard Neville, reflecting on the history of the State Library of NSW. From the founding stories of this iconic institution to its evolution across 200 years, the series examines how libraries collect, preserve and share knowledge, imagination and creativity across generations.