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Nine people standing on the shores of a beach, looking towards the waves. Some of the people are lifeguards in uniform, while the rest are adults in regular swimwear.

Brydie Piaf, Participants taking part in A Splash of Colour Swimming beach safety session at Newcastle Beach, New South Wales, 18 April, 2026, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-4204346838

Documenting Australia’s relationship with water
10 Nov 2026

Explore the new photos making a splash in our collection.

News
A person with short dark hair and glasses stands leaning on a glass railing outdoors, wearing a dark blue short-sleeved shirt with a red cherry pattern.

Branwell Roberts, 2026 National Library of Australia Scholar

Poetry and empire in Antarctica
09 Nov 2026

Learn about National Library of Australia Scholar Branwell Roberts' research into poetry, science and imperial masculinity in the archives of Thomas Griffith Taylor.

Blog
Two microphone on a table during an oral history interview
Inaugural First Nations Oral History Training Program trainees announced
09 Nov 2026

We’re pleased to welcome the 6 participants selected for our inaugural First Nations Oral History Training Program. 

News
Two women sitting at a table with a coffee and cake each. There are colourful windows and other diners in the background.
Summer opening hours 2026
05 Nov 2026

Visiting the Library around Christmas and New Year?

News
A nostalgic collection of vintage data storage media, including a vinyl record, various floppy disks, cassette tapes, and a DLT tape, arranged on a wooden surface.
Celebrating World Digital Preservation Day
05 Nov 2026

November 5 is World Digital Preservation Day.

News

What's on

Red text reading 'Wangka Wakanutja' on a yellow background
Wangka Wakaṉutja: The Story of the Papunya Literature Production Centre
04 Apr 2026 - 31 Jan 2027

Explore the decades-long, remarkable efforts of the Papunya community to record language and culture and keep it alive. 

Exhibition
Exhibition Gallery
Online
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Assistance animals welcome
Speaker with a line through it Speaker with a line through it
Quiet hours 9:00am - 11:00am
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Wheelchair accessible
A cartoon of a pointy-nosed orange character wearing a yellow dress with red spots, placed upside down on a bright blue background
Judy Horacek: Everyone on the bus fell down (not just me)
10 Nov 2026

Cartoonist, writer and illustrator Judy Horacek brings her comedy cartoon slide show to the National Library – a show about public transport, climate catastrophe, a certain green sheep and getting older (for real).

Event
Books and authors
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Assistance animals welcome
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Hearing induction loop
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Wheelchair accessible
An aerial view of a desert landscape with a single green tree at the center, surrounded by numerous rusted, abandoned airplane fuselages arranged in a radial pattern.
'Nature' documentary screening Canberra - Citizen COP 2026
11 Nov 2026

Join People For Nature and the Alliance Française de Canberra for a special community screening of Nature - The Call for Reconciliation, a powerful cinematic experience connecting global environmental challenges to local action. Presented as part of Citizen COP Australia 2026.

Event
Film screening
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Assistance animals welcome
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Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
Three people are viewing exhibits in a museum gallery. A man stands facing two women, appearing to explain something about displayed artwork and documents. A large informational panel titled 'We are Australian' is visible, along with framed pictures on the walls and a display case. A 'TQI ACT Accredited Program 2026' logo is in the lower-left corner.
Treasures from the Library for the Classroom - Teacher Professional Development
12 Nov 2026

Join the National Library of Australia’s Education team to explore stories behind the Treasures in our collection. Learn how you and your students can access reliable, authentic sources through the Library's Exhibitions programming, with incredible objects that can be found both online and by visiting the building in Canberra.

Event
Workshops and seminars
Workshop
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Assistance animals welcome
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Wheelchair accessible

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