Inducted into the State Library: My Emerging SA Literary Fellowship Begins
Me, Jennifer Mills, Helen Edwards, Piri Eddy, Alexis West, Laura Kroetsch, Megan Berghuis at the State Library of South Australia
Last week, I had the incredible experience of being inducted into the State Library of South Australia as part of my Emerging SA Literary Fellowship. It still feels a little surreal! All five fellowship recipients gathered in the big glass foyer of the library, buzzing with excitement as we met the key figures supporting us on this journey.
We were introduced to Megan Berghuis and Mark Gilbert from the State Library, as well as Katherine Woehlert and Laura Kroetsch from Writers SA. Their enthusiasm for our projects and the resources available to us was inspiring.
A Tour of Literary Treasures
Mark led us on a truly fascinating tour of the library, starting with the breathtaking Mortlock Wing—one of the most beautiful library spaces in the world. But the real treat came as we ventured behind the scenes, where we glimpsed the meticulous work that goes into preserving and digitising the library’s vast collection. I was amazed by the sheer scale and organisation of the materials, spanning everything from historical documents to multimedia archives.
Mortlock Wing
We were also given a rundown of the various workspaces we could choose from during our fellowship and how we could access specific materials. The sense of possibility was electrifying—we all left the tour eager to dive into our research.
A truly insane number of bookshelves… jealous anyone?
Some pretty, pretty books!
Say Cheese!
After the tour, we had a professional photoshoot back in the light-filled foyer. I quickly discovered that I apparently don’t have a ‘relaxed’ face—my attempts at looking natural still resulted in a big, wide grin. I guess enthusiasm is hard to dial down!
A Warm Welcome from Writers SA
Our next stop was the Institute Building, where we met the wonderful team from Writers SA. They welcomed us with open arms, showed us around their offices, and even gifted us some fabulous Writers SA swag.
This fellowship marks an exciting new chapter in my creative journey, and I can’t wait to spend time at the State Library delving into my research. Huge thanks to both the State Library of South Australia and Writers SA for this incredible opportunity.
Stay tuned—there’s so much more to come!