Past events | National Library of Australia (NLA)

Past events

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A smiling woman dressed in military clothing
Winter Tales presents Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness CSC
29 Jun 2025 | 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Join National Cyber Security Coordinator Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness CSC as she reflects on her life and work.

Conference Room
Talks and ideas
An adult and child reading a book with a dog sitting between them.
Story Dogs on Sunday - June 2025
29 Jun 2025 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Join us for a paw-sitive reading experience with the  Story Dogs program.

Kids and families
Foyer
Books and authors
Storytime
For kids and families
Sepia photo of the Melbourne Public Library building

James N. Vickers, Public Library, Melbourne, Victoria, c. 1879, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-501530595

A traveller’s guide to the world’s greatest libraries
24 Jun 2025 | 2:00pm - 3:30pm

The Friends of the National Library held an enlightening talk on the joy of library tourism.

Conference Room
Friends of the Library event
Past event
A woman and child holding books and gifts in the National Library Bookshop.
2025 National Library Bookshop sale
21 Jun 2025 | 9:00am - 5:00pm

End the financial year with a smile by picking up some Australian literature and unique gifts at reduced prices.

NLA Bookshop
Books and authors
Bookshop event
Bookplate cafe at the Library set up with long tables set with white table cloths, wine glasses and flowers

Interior of Bookplate restaurant at the National Library of Australia.

My Story: An evening with Mike Bowers
20 Jun 2025 | 6:00pm - 10:00pm

We had dinner at Bookplate with renowned photojournalist, and guest curator of our Fit to Print exhibition, Mike Bowers.

Bookplate café
Past event
Talks and ideas
Scott-Patrick Mitchell standing in front of a tree

2025 Creative Arts Fellow Scott-Patrick Mitchell. Image courtesy David Cox Media.

RISE RALLY REST with Scott-Patrick Mitchell
29 May 2025 | 5:30pm - 6:30pm

Poet Scott-Patrick Mitchell discussed their recent Fellowship focused on laying research groundwork for a new poetry collection titled RISE RALLY REST.

Online
Theatre
Past event
Talks and ideas
Fellowship talk
Grey background with white text reading 'Fit to Print' and individual photos of photographers Mike Bowers, Rick Stevens and Lorie Graham
Life behind the lens
27 May 2025 | 6:00pm - 7:15pm

Veteran photojournalist Mike Bowers in conversation with two of Australia’s greatest photographers: Lorrie Graham, and Rick Stevens.

Online
Theatre
Past event
Talks and ideas
Photos of Adam Ford, Jilda Andrews, Lucy Hannan, Phyllis Williams and Rebecca Bateman

Adam Ford, Jilda Andrews, Lucy Hannan, Phyllis Williams and Rebecca Bateman

Lunchtime yarn: ICIP across the National Cultural sector
27 May 2025 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Staff from across Canberra’s National Cultural Institutions shared their experiences working with Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property (ICIP) rights.

Online
Theatre
First Australians
Past event
Workshops and seminars
An adult and child reading a book with a dog sitting between them.
Story Dogs on Sunday - May 2025
25 May 2025 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm

We had a paw-sitive reading experience with the Story Dogs program.

Kids and families
Foyer
Books and authors
Storytime
For kids and families
Past event
Print of two women in dresses holding hands. One has a trumpet in her other hands and is leaning over a sign reading 'Free Masons Hall Readings & Music'. Photoshopped on top is a teal circle with text reading 'Friends Event'

John Thornthwaite and Mather Brown, Ticket for an Evening of ‘Readings & Music’ Held at Free Masons Hall, c. 1790, from the Papers of Jamie and Michael Kassler, 1790-2021, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn5977647

Coffee with the Curator: The Excellencies of Musick
22 May 2025 | 10:30am - 12:00pm

Dr Susannah Helman provided her insights into the Jamie and Michael Kassler Collection.

Treasures Gallery
Friends of the Library event
Guided tours
Past event
Cover of the book The Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell. A man is crouched down patting a cat. There is a bowl in front of the cat, a bush with flowers in the foreground, and trees behind a white pole fence and a truck cabin in the background.
ALIA National Simultaneous Storytime 2025: 'The Truck Cat'
21 May 2025 | 12:00pm - 12:10pm

We read 'The Truck Cat' for National Simultaneous Storytime 2025.

Online
Books and authors
Storytime
Education/learning
For kids and families
Past event
Book cover for 'Dirraywadha' by Anita Heiss next to a photo of Anita Heiss sitting on some concrete steps
Teacher Professional Development with Dr Anita Heiss
15 May 2025 | 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Dr Anita Heiss conducted a teacher professional development workshop.

Theatre
Education/learning
First Australians
Past event
Workshops and seminars
Workshop

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