Mortlock Library of South Australia... White Glove Tours

No one who enters the chamber of the Mortlock Library of South Australiana can fail to appreciate its visual splendour. The White Gloves Treasures tour takes you behind the scenes to staff only balconies to view treasures from South Australia's history. Our guide is Valmai Hankel, State Librarian for 40 years. Wearing the white gloves gives you the opportunity to handle some of these rare items. Similar gloves are worn by archivists to protect the historic items from naturally occurring acids in their skin. This diary was illegally kept by a prisoner of war in Changi during World War 2. If he had been caught with it, he'd have been killed. Valmai's tour travels through other areas of the library, where all the hard work of discovering the treasures is done for you. The tours involve a little walking up and down stairs, and Valmai suggests those with vertigo may be affected in the balconies. The White Gloves Treasures tours are usually held on the second Tuesday of each month. Extra tours are being arranged for Library week this week, Tuesday to Friday. Tours run from 11am to 12.30pm and cost $10 for adults. Bookings are essential so phone (08) 8207 7664. For more information you can email: info@postcards-sa.com.au