the library has a chess room that houses a wide range of materials dedicated to the history, study and practice of chess. it contains a collection of items from the anderson chess collection, one of the three largest public chess collections in the world. in addition to bookshelves containing an extensive range of books and periodicals relating to chess, the room has game tables with chessboards and pieces, and a few glass cabinets containing historical chess paraphernalia. the room is a multi-purpose room intended also for reading and studying. the chess room was temporarily closed in february 2017. chess games sets and the chess collection are available in the la trobe reading room until the collection moves to its permanent home in ian potter queen's hall in 2019.