News & media

Blue velvet structural artwork on a white pedestal in the Library foyer

Canberra Art Biennial on display at the Library

30 Sep 2024

For the next 4 weeks, the Library is one of 20 locations hosting contemporary mixed media artworks as part of the Canberra Art Biennial.

News

A man and woman, both Library volunteers, standing outside the Library on a sunny day smiling

Become a volunteer guide at the National Library

26 Sep 2024

Applications for volunteer guides are open now until 11:59pm on Tuesday 29 October 2024.

News

Black and white photo of two women, Dorothy Tangney and Enid Lyons, walking together towards the entrance of Old Parliament House

Photo of Dorothy Tangney and Enid Lyons entering Parliament House in 1943, from the Papers of Dorothy Margaret Tangney, 1938-1986, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3190082597

'They gave me a marvellous reception': Australian women, democracy and the 1943 Federal Election

13 Sep 2024

Explore the papers of three women involved in the 1943 Federal Election: Enid Lyons, Dorothy Tangney and Jessie Street.

Blog

A handwritten diary entry in an old fashioned script.

George Thomson, Diary entry for Tuesday 26 May 1868, Diary of George Thomson, 1868-1869, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3308197449

Indigenous Australian cricket team touring England in the 1860s

12 Sep 2024

Australians have often gone to great lengths to see their favourite sporting teams, even back in the 1860s!

News

Celia Craig, a woman with very short brown hair, smiling and holding large book of sheet music with the title 'Symphonic Overture'

Exploring the letters of legendary musician Miriam Hyde with Celia Craig

11 Sep 2024

Read about Creative Arts Fellow Celia Craig's experience of exploring the papers of musician Miriam Hyde.

Blog

Illustrated flowers and beetle details from the front cover of the book 'Flora: Australia's Most Curious Plants'.

Cover detail from Flora: Australia's Most Curious Plants.

Uncover the wonders of Australia’s plants with Tania McCartney’s latest book ‘Flora’

10 Sep 2024

Get ready to go on a captivating journey through Australia's botanical wonders with Flora: Australia’s Most Curious Plants by Tania McCartney.

Media release

Two people standing next to each other, smiling. One has shoulder-length dark brown hair and wears glasses and a dark blue dress with a bow detail at the neckline. The other has short dark hair, also wearing glasses, and a black jacket with a floral pattern on the lapel, along with a name tag.

Catherine Law (Opalgate Foundation) and Alice Wong (NLA council) at the 2024 NLA Patron dinner

New online programs for lifelong learning

29 Aug 2024

With the Opalgate Foundation’s support, we are creating a new lifelong learning space on our website.

News

A couple smiles at the camera in a formal setting. Susan, with dark hair pulled back, wears a black outfit with gold buttons. Isaac, wearing glasses and a dark pinstriped suit, holds a wine glass in one hand. They are surrounded by a dimly lit background with other people.

Susan Wakil AO and Isaac Wakil AO

Our performing arts collection dazzles on Trove

29 Aug 2024

Thanks to a remarkable gift of $1 million from the Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation, the Library is digitising performing arts material from our incredible collection.

News

Rupert Myer AO, wearing a grey suit with a pink shirt and patterned tie, speaks at a podium with a microphone. He is smiling warmly and wearing glasses, addressing an audience against a backdrop of dark curtains.

Rubert Myer AO 2024

Library as sanctuary, librarian as saviour

29 Aug 2024

Find out about President of the Myer Foundation, Rupert Myer AO, keynote speech at the Library’s 2024 Patron Dinner.

News

Man reading through a thick, leather-bound book of shipping registers

Lloyd's register of shipping, 1914-1949, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn729906

Discovering your ancestors’ migration story: Part 2

28 Aug 2024

Our Special Collections Research & Support team are back with answers to more common questions that can help can uncover your ancestors' migration story.

Blog