Events | National Library of Australia (NLA)

Events

Showing 1 - 12 of 19 results
Two handmade concertina style books laid out side by side
Concertina Book Workshop with Sharon Peoples
22 Apr 2026 | 10:00am - 12:30pm

Join artist Sharon Peoples, with the Friends of the National Library, for a concertina book workshop for adults.

Friends Lounge
Friends of the Library event
Workshop
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
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? Explore the evolution of the audiobook from analog to AI.

Academics
Book lovers
Library professionals
Online
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
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
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 - 28 April
28 Apr 2026 | 10:00am - 10:45am

*Booked out* 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
Places limited
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
Rebecca Bateman, holding the NLA Publication, Wangka Wakanutja, in the National Library of Australia

Rebecca Bateman, and NLA Publication, Wangka Wakanutja.

Learn with the Curators of Wangka Wakaṉutja
29 Apr 2026 | 12:30pm - 1:15pm

Learn from experts who have brought the Wangka Wakanutja exhibition to life.

Culturally active
First Australians
Online
Education/learning
Webinar
A woman wearing a grey jacket stands leaning on a table with papers in a library setting
Fellowship presentation: Early Philippine Palaeontology
30 Apr 2026 | 12:30pm - 1:30pm

Dr Pauline Basilia presents her recent Fellowship research on the contributions of H. Otley Beyer to Philippine Pleistocene research.

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
A woman sitting on a stool with piles of books and a bookcase behind her

Lisa Wilkinson

Author talk: The Titanic Story of Evelyn by Lisa Wilkinson AM
30 Apr 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Canberra Writers Festival presents renowned author and journalist Lisa Wilkinson AM in conversation about her book, The Titanic Story of Evelyn.

Foyer
Theatre
Books and authors
Author 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
Portrait of woman with dark short hair, next to the image of a book cover, which is yellow with a pink border, 'Rosalie Ham' written up the top, the title 'Look After Your Feet' at the centre, 'Some keen observations on the unexpected advantages and indignities of getting older' underneath the title

Rosalie Ham

Author talk: Look After Your Feet by Rosalie Ham
01 May 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Canberra Writers Festival presents author Rosalie Ham for a special event focused on her new novel, Look After Your Feet.

Foyer
Theatre
Books and authors
Author 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
Two women are seated at a table covered in red cloth and laid with vintage lamps, stationery and typewriters
Postscript: letter writing workshop
09 May 2026 | 10:00am - 12:00pm

Letters are for life. Join the world-famous Ms Constance Spry's Letter Writing Service for a creative workshop in celebration of the humble art of correspondence.

Ferguson Room
Workshop
Places limited
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Susan Choi and David Szalay pictured alongside their book covers

Susan Choi and her book Flashlight and David Szalay and his book Flesh.

Author Talk: Night of the Bookers with David Szalay and Susan Choi
12 May 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Canberra Writers Festival presents authors David Szalay, Susan Choi and Nigel Featherstone for a special night of conversation about their works and their writing lives.

Foyer
Theatre
Books and authors
Author 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 man with glasses wearing a black button-down shirt in the National Library of Australia's Special Collections Reading Room

Dr Matthew Lamb

The 'archival imagination' of Frank Moorhouse
19 May 2026 | 12:30pm - 1:30pm

Dr Matthew Lamb presents his recent Fellowship research on Frank Moorhouse’s ‘archival imagination’, exploring how his methods shaped his work and identity. 

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
A monastery and other buildings with mountains with snow on top in the background

Monastery of Tsarang, Mustang. Source: Image from lecturer.

Journey across the Himalayas
19 May 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:45pm

ArtsNational Canberra and Zara Fleming present a lecture focusing on the Buddhist areas of the highest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas.

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

Visit us

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

Plan your visit