The Committee, led by Treasurer Kevin Quigley, has undertaken a revision of the rules which govern the operation of the Melbourne Athenaeum. These were last revised and registered in 2007.

The outcome is a draft set of rules which are comprehensive, easy to read, compliant with current legislation and reflective of current practices. Members will have an opportunity to raise any questions about these draft rules at the AGM, which will take place in the Library at 1pm on 17 April.
You can read an annotated version of these draft rules by clicking here and can view the current approved rules by clicking here

Book and Screen Clubs

The library offers a wide range of book clubs to suit diverse reading tastes. These clubs meet monthly and members decide on which books are read during the year.

The clubs provide a casual but structured discussion led by an experienced reader with questions and discussion points developed to assist and enrich your thinking about the author and the book.

Membership to any of the book clubs or screen club is free with your annual subscription.

 



 

Evening Crime Fiction Book Club

Librarian and avid crime reader Fiona Malcolm is running a crime fiction book club for our many fans of the genre. There has been strong interest in this club, so join now!

January 16 - The mystery of a Hansom cab by Fergus Hume

February 20 - Miss Smilla's feeling for snow by Peter Hoeg

March 20 - The bullet that missed by Richard Osman

April 17 - The woman in white by Wilkie Collins

May 15 - Daughter of time by Josephine Tey

June 19 - Fog by Kaja Malanowska

July 17 - A bird in the hand by Ann Cleeves

August 21 - The merchant's house by Kate Ellis

September 18 - Once there were wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

October 16 - White jazz by James Ellroy

November 20 - A rising man by Abir Mukherjee

WHEN:  3rd Monday each month

TIME:  5:45 pm

DURATION:  1 hour

 * Easter Monday

 


 

Lunchtime Crime Fiction Book Club

Our original crime fiction book club has been so popular we've started a new and improved lunchtime crime fiction book club. There has been strong interest in this club, so join now!

January 23 - Fog by Kaja Malanowska

February 27 - A bird in the hand by Ann Cleeves

March 27 - The merchant's house by Kate Ellis

April 24 - Once there were wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

May 22 - White jazz by James Ellroy

June 26 - A rising man by Abir Mukherjee

July 24 - The mystery of a Hansom cab by Fergus Hume

August 28 - Miss Smilla's feeling for snow by Peter Hoeg

September 25 - The bullet that missed by Richard Osman

October 23 - The woman in white by Wilkie Collins

November 27 - Daughter of time by Josephine Tey

 

WHEN:  4th Monday each month

TIME:  12:00 pm

DURATION:  1 hour

 


 

Friday Lunchtime Book Club

We read a new fiction book each month from a list selected by book club members. Please ask staff about joining as there are a limited number of places available.

February 10 - Under the net by Iris Murdoch

March 10 - The erratics by Vicki Laveau-Harvie

April 14 - The Tolstoy Estate by Steven Conte

May 13 - The plague by Albert Camus

June 9 - There was still love by Favel Parrett

July 14 - The marriage portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

August 11 - The thief by Fuminori Nakamura

September 8 - The sun also rises by Ernest Hemingway

October 13 - The island of missing trees by Elif Shafak

November 10 - Chai time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran

December 8 - A man called Ove by Frederick Backman

WHEN:  2nd Friday each month

TIME:  12:00 pm

DURATION:  1 hour

 



 

Thursday Lunchtime Book Club

We read a new fiction book each month from a list selected by book club members. Please ask staff about joining as there are a limited number of places available.

January 19 - The island of missing trees by Elif Shafak

February 16 - Chai time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran

March 16 - A man called Ove by Frederick Backman

April 20 - Under the net by Iris Murdoch

May 18 - The erratics by Vicki Laveau-Harvie

June 15 - The Tolstoy Estate by Steven Conte

July 20 - The plague by Albert Camus

August 17 - There was still love by Favel Parrett

September 21 - The marriage portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

October 19 - The thief by Fuminori Nakamura

*December 7 - The sun also rises by Ernest Hemingway

WHEN:  3rd Thursday each month

TIME:  12:00 pm

DURATION:  1 hour

 * Final meeting of the year in December rather than November

 


 

Wednesday Lunchtime Book Club

We read a new fiction book each month from a list selected by book club members. Please ask staff about joining as there are a limited number of places available.

February 1 - The marriage portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

March 1 - The thief by Fuminori Nakamura

April 5 - The sun also rises by Ernest Hemingway

May 3 - The island of missing trees by Elif Shafak

June 7 - Chai time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran

July 5 - A man called Ove by Frederick Backman

August 2 - Under the net by Iris Murdoch

September 6 - The erratics by Vicki Laveau-Harvie

October 4 - The Tolstoy Estate by Steven Conte

November 1 - The plague by Albert Camus

December 6 - There was still love by Favel Parrett

WHEN:  1st Wednesday each month

TIME:  12:00 pm

DURATION:  1 hour

 



 

 Screen Club

This group enjoys lively discussions on a range of movie titles.

February 1 - Bicycle thieves

March 1 - Amarcord (SBS On Demand until 29/06)

April 5 - Rashomon

May 3 - Age of consent

June 7 - The last picture show

July 5 - North by northwest

August 2 - The servant

September 6 - Storm center

October 4 - Synecdoche, New York

November 1 - Walkabout

December 6 - Patch Adams

WHEN:  1st Wednesday each month

TIME:  6:00 pm

DURATION: 1-1.5 hours

 


 

Second Screen Club

This group enjoys lively discussions on a range of movie titles. This club is currently working with a more limited advanced list than our other groups due to access considerations, please speak to a member of staff for assistance with titles.

January 18 - Our little sister (SBS On Demand until 15/01)

February 15 - The man in the basement (SBS On Demand until 29/06)

March 15 - The quiet girl (SBS On Demand until early 2024)

April 19 - Courted (SBS On Demand until 31/05)

May 17 - Happy-Go-Lucky (SBS On Demand until 31/05)

June 21 - A bigger splash (SBS On Demand until 29/06)

July 19 - 5 flights up (SBS On Demand until 31/08)

August 16 - Summerland (SBS On Demand until mid 2024)

September 20 - TBC

October 18 - TBC

November 15 - TBC

WHEN:  3rd Wednesday each month

TIME:  5:30 pm

DURATION: 1-1.5 hours

 

 

Photos by Peter Ittak