Time Travellers in Essendon, Flemington and the Keilor Plains
Early Libraries in Essendon and Flemington, Part 1
Early Libraries in Essendon and Flemington, Part 2
Early-Libraries-In-Essendon-and-Flemington Part 3
Sarah Windsor and her life among books - Essendon Public Library
Hygienic or circulating libraries
The following pages have lists of known circulating libraries. Thus far the post office directories checked are:
1904, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1925,1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974. Some other sources used, such as newspapers.
Known local circulating libraries
| Ascot Vale | Essendon |
| Flemington and Kensington | Moonee Ponds |
Examples of books from past libraries in local collections:
Sam Merrifield Library, Community Heritage Collection
- As a woman sows, by A G Hales. (1928), Rodgers Circulating Library & Mrs M Parkinson, Lending Library (inside dates 1943-44)
- It happened in Palestine, by Leslie D Weatherhead. (1936), Stinton’s Hygienic Library
- Home is the lover, by Jane England. (1961), Mason’s Original Hygienic Library (1970)
- Fiance on approval, by Celia Laurence. (1961), Mason’s Hygienic Library, (inside dates 1962-1974)
- Paradise Way, by Valerie Rift. (1966) Flemington-Kensington Public Library (inside dates 1966)
- House at Stormy Waters, The. By Catherine Hay. (1970), Mason’s Original Hygienic library
- The golden Hades by Edgar Wallace. 1935 , RAAF Ascot Vale Lending Library, previously Laby, 128 Flinders St, Melbourne, (inside dates 1929 and 1933-34)
- Earthly paradise, The. William Morris (1872) Essendon Public Library
- Secret tunnel, The : the book of the Mary Field film, Mary Cathcart Borer. (1950). Flemington & Kensington Library, Children's Branch
Essendon Historical Society Collection
- The Sea Gypsy by Lewis Cox. (1932) Mrs McLaren’s Queen's Library, Holmes Road, 1930s (Queen’s Library stamp).
- The Bridges at Toko-Ri, Stinton's Hygienic Library, Puckle St, 1950s.
Author's Collection
- The Elusive Quest, by Frances Cowan. (1965) Mason's Hygienic Library, (lending dates 1965-1968).
Further reading:
Frost, Lenore. 'Dear Reader' in The Newsletter, Essendon Historical Society, Issue No 187, Feb-Mar 2007.
Rogers, Lorraine. ‘Threepence a book’, in Threepence a Book & Other Stories from Moonee Valley, by Joe de Iacovo & Contributors. Wingate Avenue Community Centre, 2001.