Events | National Library of Australia (NLA)

Events

Showing 1 - 12 of 27 results
A painting of a house and its neighbourgood with women doing housework chores

Johannes Vermeer, The Little Street (c. 1660), Source: Rijksmuseum

The Dutch Golden Age in six paintings
15 Sep 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:45pm

ArtsNational Canberra and Mariska Beekenkamp-Wladimiroff present a lecture focusing on the Dutch Golden Age, using six paintings to explore the art, cities, landscapes and society of 17th century Netherlands.

Foyer
Theatre
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 promotional poster for 'The Great Student Debate 2026' featuring six students in formal attire. The debate topic is 'That Australian politics is alive and well,' scheduled for Thursday 17 September at the National Library of Australia. Logos for Hurlstone Agricultural High School, Lakeland Senior High School, University of Canberra, Social Sciences Week, and the National Library of Australia are displayed.
The Great Student Debate 2026: That Australian politics is alive and well
17 Sep 2026 | 4:00pm - 5:00pm

For the third-year running, the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia presents the Great Student Debate as students from across Australia argue for and against the state of Australian politics.

Foyer
Theatre
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
Portraits of six smiling people on a purple, pink, yellow and green banner with the Social Sciences Week and National Library of Australia logo displayed.
The Great Debate 2026: That Australian politics is alive and well
17 Sep 2026 | 5:00pm - 7:00pm

The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia presents an evening of compelling debate, as six of Australia’s premier academics argue for and against the state of Australian politics.

Foyer
Theatre
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 with dark hair wearing a pink t-shirt with black text reading She Shapes History
She Shapes History at the National Library - September 2026
19 Sep 2026 | 10:30am - 12:30pm

Where are the women in the story of Australia? Our partnership with She Shapes History brings an exciting event series exploring the often-under-recognised women’s stories in Australia’s history. The second event looks into the women the law went looking for, the women the papers turned into cautionary tales, and the women whose absence from the record is itself the story.
 

Adult learners
Researchers
Theatre
Talks and ideas
Collection talk
Panel discussion
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 book cover featuring an image of a smiling soldier is pictured next to an image of the book's author sitting outdoors with sunset in background
Book launch: Fighting for Country
23 Sep 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Join author James Saunders as he discusses his new book, Fighting for Country, detailing the extraordinary life of his uncle, Reginald Saunders, Australia’s first Indigenous military officer. 

Book lovers
Family historians
First Australians
Foyer
Online
Theatre
Author talk
Book launch
First Australians
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 smiling woman with short brown hair sits at a desk, holding open a large, detailed historical map. She wears a floral-patterned blouse and looks directly at the camera..

Dr Margaret Cook

Histories of cyclones in Australia with Dr Margaret Cook
24 Sep 2026 | 12:30pm - 1:30pm

Dr Margaret Cook presents her recent Fellowship research on cyclones, one of the most powerful and devastating natural forces experienced in the Australian climate.

Academics
Online
Theatre
Fellowship 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
An adult and child reading a book with a dog sitting between them.
Story Dogs on Sunday
27 Sep 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
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
Book cover for 'Power in Numbers: Australian Women in Economics' by Catie Bradbear and Melissa Bray, featuring portraits of the authors and a rising arrow graphic.
Book signing: Power In Numbers: Australian Women in Economics 
28 Sep 2026 | 12:30pm - 1:30pm

Catie Bradbear and Melissa Bray are coming to the Bookshop to sign copies of their latest book Power in Numbers: Australian Women in Economics. 

NLA Bookshop
Books and authors
Bookshop event
A split image featuring two women. On the left, a woman with curly hair and a black hat wears a t-shirt with Aboriginal art and the text 'For Our Elders'. On the right, a smiling woman with curly hair and large earrings stands in front of artwork. A circular logo for 'Wilay Designs' with two illustrated possums is centered between them.
School holiday activity: Connecting to Country through art
30 Sep 2026 | 10:00am - 12:00pm

These holidays, celebrate art, culture, and storytelling with Ngunawal artists Jazz and Kristal Matthews from Wilay Designs. During the session, participants will explore the Wangka Wakanutja exhibition to be inspired by the Papunya Community’s remarkable publishing and artistic output.

Primary school students
Brindabella Room
School holiday event
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
A woman with long dark hair wearing a green shirt is pictured in front of green shrubbery
2026 Ray Mathew Lecture: Winnie Dunn
01 Oct 2026 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Award-winning Tongan-Australian writer Winnie Dunn delivers the 2026 Ray Mathew Lecture, examining the topic of representation in literature.

Online
Theatre
Books and authors
Talks and ideas
Flagship lecture
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 split image featuring a smiling older woman in a black top sitting at a table on the left, and a flat lay of art supplies, including a sketchbook with a drawing of a person, a black folio, and a dragonfly illustration on a patterned background on the right.
Visual Journalling for Library Lovers Session 1
07 Oct 2026 | 10:00am - 12:00pm

*Booked out* Have you ever wanted to record a visit to the National Library in a more personal way?

Book lovers
Family historians
Friends of the Library
Conference Room
Friends of the Library event
Booked out
A split image featuring a smiling older woman in a black top sitting at a table on the left, and a flat lay of art supplies, including a sketchbook with a drawing of a person, a black folio, and a dragonfly illustration on a patterned background on the right.
Visual Journalling for Library Lovers Session 2
07 Oct 2026 | 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Have you ever wanted to record a visit to the National Library in a more personal way?

Book lovers
Family historians
Friends of the Library
Conference Room
Friends of the Library event

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