Past events | National Library of Australia (NLA)

Past events

Showing 1 - 12 of 274 results
An adult and child reading a book with a dog sitting between them.
Story Dogs on Sunday
26 Apr 2026 | 11:00am - 12:00pm

Come along on the last Sunday of each month for a paw-sitive reading experience with the Story Dogs program.

Kids and families
Foyer
Storytime
Education/learning
For kids and families
A man wearing glasses, blue shirt and jacket, standing in front of a wrought iron fence
The audiobook's evolution from the analog era to AI
23 Apr 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Does listening count as reading? Should narrators perform? Can audiobooks do more than imitate printed ones? This event explored the evolution of the audiobook from analog to AI.

Academics
Book lovers
Library professionals
Online
Theatre
Past event
Talks and ideas
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
Two handmade concertina style books laid out side by side
Concertina Book Workshop with Sharon Peoples
22 Apr 2026 | 10:00am - 12:30pm

Artist Sharon Peoples, and the Friends of the National Library, presented a concertina book workshop for adults.

Friends Lounge
Friends of the Library event
Past event
Workshop
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
A man in a suit and red tie stands at a lecturn in front of a blue curtain
Landslide: The 2025 Australian federal election
16 Apr 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm

The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia hosted the launch of Landslide, published by ANU Press and edited by Marian Sawer, Jill Sheppard, and John Warhurst. Veteran journalist Nick Bryant and Professor Jill Sheppard had a conversation that could not be missed.

Online
Theatre
Book launch
Past event
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
A cosy living room. A small table surrounded by four chairs takes up much of the image. There are a few other seats in the image, and artwork and sculpture adorning the walls and shelves lining the walls.

Duldig Studio sitting room. Image courtesy of the Duldig Studio Museum + Sculpture Garden ©2026.

Community Heritage Grants: New Applicants Q&A forum
16 Apr 2026 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

This was an opportunity to learn more about the Community Heritage Grants program and ask specific questions about your proposal.

Online
Past event
Webinar
A planner featuring mood, reading and savings trackers with other stationary items on display like pens, eraser, scissors and glue
School holiday activity: Creative journaling for beginners
15 Apr 2026 | 10:30am - 12:30pm

In this event, we joined our Education team for an exploration of creative journaling!

Ferguson Room
Education/learning
School holiday event
Past event
Workshop
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Old playing cards are laid out next to the box depicting a fortune-telling woman, arms stretched out and wearing a red dress

Zinga Lee (1861?–1945), Fortune Telling by Cards, Melbourne: Exchange Press, c. 1902, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn6891115

Curator's tour: Treasures Gallery - 14 April
14 Apr 2026 | 10:00am - 10:45am

This was an opportunity to learn all about the Library's treasures through a special tour held as part of the Canberra & Region Heritage Festival.

Culturally active
Friends of the Library
Visitors
Treasures Gallery
Guided tours
Past event
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
A black and white image of a wartime Naval ship

Australian battlecruiser HMAS Australia in 1914, Alan C. Green, State Library Victoria

Australia's Naval Alliances: John Seymour and Hugh White
07 Apr 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm

In the 1920s and 1930s Australia entrusted its security to Britain's Royal Navy.  In 1941 that proved to be a big mistake. Are we making the same mistake now with America and AUKUS? John Seymour discusses his new book.

Academics
Researchers
Online
Theatre
Author talk
Past event
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
A painting of two stockman riding horses and holding whips high in the air, capturing a bull

The Queenslander, ‘Cutting Out’ A Fat Beast, from Notes on Queensland, April 1894. Colour digital version by Warren Fahey.

Echoes of the long paddock: A folksong celebration
01 Apr 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:30pm

This special concert performance saluted our 70th anniversary as custodian of Australia's folksong heritage and oral history.

Online
Theatre
Past event
Talks and ideas
Collection talk
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
A woman wearing glasses with short hair, holding books in front of the Main Reading Room at the National Library of Australia

Dr Marie-Louise Ayres FAHA

Dr Marie-Louise Ayres reflects on 30+ years
31 Mar 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Dr Marie-Louise Ayres FAHA, Director-General of the National Library of Australia, delivered her reflections on more than 30 years in the library sector.

Online
Theatre
Past event
Talks and ideas
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
A woman in a space station wearing her astronaut suit with computers behind her

Katherine Bennell-Pegg

Exploring space with Katherine Bennell-Pegg and Neil Hart
30 Mar 2026 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Canberra Cyber Hub and 2026 Australian of the Year, Katherine Bennell-Pegg presented a special In Conversation event about the modern space industry, and Australia's growing role within it.

Online
Theatre
Past event
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
An audience watching a performance in a theatre with a focused expression
A deep dive into 'Julius Caesar'
26 Mar 2026 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Dr Kate Flaherty and Bell Shakespeare presented a special lecture about Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, diving into the play and its history, unpacking what it tells us about our past, present and future.

Theatre
Past event
Talks and ideas
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible

Visit us

Find our opening times, get directions, join a tour, or dine and shop with us.

Plan your visit