All Events
Public events at the State Library include talks on literary, historical and contemporary issues, movies, workshops and courses as well as presentations about, and showings of, the Library's rich collections.
You can also listen to selected talks online.
Tuesday 22 May, 6.00 PM
Talk: John Ogden - Saltwater People of the Broken bays
Author and photographer John Ogden will talk about his latest book Saltwater People of the Broken Bays which celebrates the Broken Bays as the birthplace of Australian beach cultureThis event is part of the Tuesdays in the Galleries series.
Wednesday 23 May, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Wednesday 23 May, 6.00 PM
Tour: Behind the Stacks:Backroom Tour
A walking tour of the backrooms and byways of the State Library including the historic Mitchell stack. Explore the spooky Mitchell stacks, peek into the preservation labs and explore the beautiful Shakespeare Room, in this extraordinary working building.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Wednesday 23 May, 6.00 PM
Talk: Thinking Out Loud
This year's speaker is Professor Stathis Gourgouris (Columbia University) presenting lectures on secular criticism, a term that indicates the desire of modern thought to wrest a space that is separate from religion
Friday 25 May, 6.00 PM
Talk: Thinking Out Loud
This year's speaker is Professor Stathis Gourgouris (Columbia University) presenting lectures on secular criticism, a term that indicates the desire of modern thought to wrest a space that is separate from religion.
Wednesday 30 May, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Wednesday 30 May, 6.30 PM
Talk: Walkley Media Talks: Foreign Correspondence
Join the BBC's Nick Bryant and Brian Thomson from SBS on a journey from the world's most dangerous conflict zones to the highest halls of political power, with plenty of wild and fascinating detours along the way.
This event is part of the Walkley Media Talks series.
Friday 1 June, 10.00 AM
Workshop: Climb Your Family Tree
Join us for five Family History Fridays during June. This short course will take you from starting your family history through to finding out all the details of your ancestors' lives. Was your ancestor a convict? When did the family first arrive in Australia? Where did they come from? Learn how to find this information for yourself and all the tips and tricks in climbing your family tree. Presented in association with the Society of Australian Genealogists. Please note this course is a series running for five consecutive Fridays in June: 1 June, 8 June, 15 June, 22 June and 29 June from 10am-12.30pm.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Friday 1 June, 6.30 PM
Talk: Transit of Venus dinner with guest speaker Prof Fred Watson AM
To celebrate this historic event, the State Library of NSW will host a special dinner on Friday 1 June with guest speaker Professor Fred Watson AM, Astronomer in Charge of the Australian Astronomical Observatory at Coonabarabran.
Tuesday 5 June, 11.00 AM
Talk: Scholarly Musings - Stewart Reed
Stewart, beginning with research for an exhibition in 2004, used the dozens of boxes of notes, correspondence, original drawings, cuttings and proofs of Gibb's comic scripts held in the Mitchell Library.
Stewart describes the variety of characters in the comics, how the original artwork was transformed into the final printed comic, Gibb's use of language, spelling and punctuation and her innovative recycling of themes.
Wednesday 6 June, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Thursday 7 June, 11.00 AM
Talk: Where Do I Start?
This talk introduces first-time users to the fantastic services and collections available at the State Library and will give you a good idea of where to begin your research.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Thursday 7 June, 6.00 PM
Talk: Monarchs, Mistresses & Love Letters
‘Every arranged royal marriage provides a vacancy for a mistress,’ says best-selling historian Susanna de Vries. The talk will also discuss the passionate letters between Edward VII and Mrs Freda Dudley Ward, which are now housed in the Mitchell Library.
Wednesday 13 June, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Thursday 14 June, 12.00 PM
Talk: The Neverending Story 3
Hiding from a gang of bullies in his school library, Bastian stumbles across The Neverending Story, and evades the gang by wishing himself back to Fantasia. The Nasties discover the book and fill the empty pages with their own story, transforming Fantasia into a realm of nastiness.
Thursday 14 June, 6.00 PM
Talk: Out of the Vaults: Artists' Books
The State Library of NSW has some fascinating Australian and European artists’ books in its collections. Difficult to define as a genre, it is widely recognised that artists’ books are consciously created as works of art. Having their origins in the European avant-garde of the early twentieth century, the format is often challenging and even subversive. Come along and see some of our artists’ books for yourself.
This event is part of the Out of the Vaults series.
Wednesday 20 June, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Wednesday 20 June, 6.00 PM
Talk: Hail Fellows
Join two Library Fellows for a fascinating night learning about a diverse range of research and ideas. Dr Amanda Kaladelfos will discuss her project, Citizens of Mercy: Bushrangers, Punishment and Public Opinion in colonial NSW, which examined popular conceptions of crime and punishment in the late colonial period. Mr Jesse O’Neill will present from his project Print Culture in New South Wales: 1795-1835. He will discuss the emergence of early design practices in the Sydney Gazette Office, focusing on the years 1803–1807.
Tuesday 26 June, 9.30 AM
Workshop: Preserving Your Family History
A seminar dedicated to the long-term care of documents, family photographs, letters and diaries. The emphasis will be on archival storage; with tips on what materials to use and where to find them. Participants are welcome to bring along one or two items of family memorabilia to discuss their care with a Library conservator.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Tuesday 26 June, 6.00 PM
Talk: The Lone Protestor - Fiona Paisley in Conversation
Dr Fiona Paisley,in conversation with Heather Goodall, will reveal the story of Anthony Martin Fernando, who travelled to Europe in the 1910s and is thought to be the first Aboriginal Australian to protest the conditions of Indigenous Australians while overseas.
Wednesday 27 June, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Thursday 28 June, 12.00 PM
Talk: Exploring Photography: History of Photography
A documentary exploring the history of photography from the 1800s up to the end of last century.
Tuesday 3 July, 11.00 AM
Talk: Scholarly Musings - Peter Macinnis
Peter Macinnis is a story-teller who enjoys knowing and sharing the how and why of things. Like every story-teller, his greatest reward comes when a reader or listener asks "what happened next?" or says "I want to know more!" He likes to play role model, encouraging youngsters to read and later, to write and tell lively Australian stories of their own.
Wednesday 4 July, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Thursday 5 July, 11.00 AM
Talk: Where Do I Start?
This talk introduces first-time users to the fantastic services and collections available at the State Library and will give you a good idea of where to begin your research.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Thursday 5 July, 6.00 PM
Talk: Photographic Albums of the Library
Join Alan Davies, the Library’s Curator of Photographs, discussing how after a century and a half, the photo album continues to preserve our most precious memories.
This event is part of the Out of the Vaults series.
Wednesday 11 July, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Thursday 12 July, 12.00 PM
Talk: Rabbit Proof Fence
In 1930s outback Australia, three young Aboriginal girls are snatched from their mothers’ arms in Jigalong, WA and sent to a remote settlement at Moore River. Forced to adapt to a strange new world, the girls embark on a daring escape. What ensues is an epic journey which tests their will to survive and their hope of finding the rabbit-proof fence to guide them home.
Wednesday 18 July, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Thursday 19 July, 10.00 AM
Workshop: Reading Yesterday’s News
Join us for this hands-on workshop and learn more about the State Library’s newspaper collection and its strengths. Discover how to find newspapers in our computer catalogue, via our electronic databases and on the internet. Find out how you can access newspaper databases at home using your Library card. Explore selected historical and contemporary newspaper databases and take a guided tour of Australian Newspapers 1803 – 1954 available via the National Library of Australia’s Trove service. Basic computing skills are required.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Saturday 21 July, 1.30 PM
Talk: Satire: Wit Larded with Malice
Satire may be wild exaggeration but invariably carries at least the germ of truth. While its bluntness is softened by humour, the ridicule is invariably and penetratingly critical. A panel of speakers, including Edmund Capon, Cathy Wilcox and Geordie Williamson, will explore the use of satire across a range of forms.
Wednesday 25 July, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Wednesday 25 July, 6.00 PM
Talk: Penguins and People
Writer and Antarctic specialist Stephen Martin shares his knowledge of the long and peculiar relationship between these engaging creatures and people. In this illustrated presentation Stephen will discuss penguins as food, in literature, in film and in political campaigns.
Thursday 26 July, 12.00 PM
Talk: The Invincibles: The 1982 Test Series
Since 1908 (barring wartime), the Australian national rugby league team toured Great Britain every four years, often capping the tour with games against clubs and Tests in France. The 1982 Kangaroos, coached by Frank Stanton, were the first such side to go through the tour unbeaten in 22 games and have become known as ‘The Invincibles’.
Wednesday 1 August, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Thursday 2 August, 11.00 AM
Talk: Where Do I Start?
This talk introduces first-time users to the fantastic services and collections available at the State Library and will give you a good idea of where to begin your research.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Tuesday 7 August, 6.00 PM
Talk: Sydney Seminar: Eternal Life After the Death of God
Can we still talk about eternity in the era of capitalist modernity? How can we understand the persistent desire for eternity in a time where the predominant political objective is the control of the lives of people?
Wednesday 8 August, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Thursday 9 August, 12.00 PM
Talk: Photographers of Australia
A documentary showcasing the work of three of Australia’s most renowned photographers: Max Dupain, Wolfgang Sievers and David Moore.
Monday 13 August, 6.00 PM
Talk: Unearthing Australia's Climate History
Australia is famous for its spectacularly erratic climate, so with human-induced climate change thrown in the mix, how can we prepare for the turbulent times ahead? A crucial part of the solution lies in understanding Australia’s climatic past.
Tuesday 14 August, 4.00 PM
Tour: Behind the Stacks:Backroom Tour
A walking tour of the backrooms and byways of the State Library including the historic Mitchell stack. Explore the spooky Mitchell stacks, peek into the preservation labs and explore the beautiful Shakespeare Room, in this extraordinary working building.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Wednesday 15 August, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Thursday 16 August, 6.00 PM
Talk: Charles Darwin: On the Origin of Species
Many books have been trumpeted as changing the world. Charles Darwin’s On the origin of species, first published in 1859, really did. Darwin had thought through his famous theory of natural selection much earlier but had been wary of publishing and was forced into it. The book sold out in a week and first editions are scarce.
This event is part of the Out of the Vaults series.
Wednesday 22 August, 10.30 AM
Workshop: An Anatomy of a Rare Book
This is a hands-on workshop for book lovers. Examples from the Library's extensive collections will be used to uncover the elements that make up a rare book - from early printing to fine bindings.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Wednesday 22 August, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Thursday 23 August, 12.00 PM
Talk: Voss (An Opera)
Voss, a German, and Laura Trevelyan, a young woman, orphaned and new to the colony of NSW, meet for the first time in the house of Laura’s uncle and the patron of Voss’s expedition, Mr Bonner.
Wednesday 29 August, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Thursday 30 August, 6.00 PM
Talk: Sarah Tyacke
Sarah Tyacke talks about Sir Robert Dudley and the first printed sea atlas, Arcano del Mare, drawn and published by Robert Dudley in 1648. Her presentation will concentrate on the East Indies and contemporary knowledge of Australia.
Wednesday 5 September, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Thursday 6 September, 9.30 AM
Workshop: Preserving Your Family History
A seminar dedicated to the long-term care of documents, family photographs, letters and diaries. The emphasis will be on archival storage; with tips on what materials to use and where to find them. Participants are welcome to bring along one or two items of family memorabilia to discuss their care with a Library conservator.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Thursday 6 September, 11.00 AM
Talk: Where Do I Start?
This talk introduces first-time users to the fantastic services and collections available at the State Library and will give you a good idea of where to begin your research.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Wednesday 12 September, 10.00 AM
Workshop: Uncover and Discover - Exploring the Library's Website
An interactive hands-on workshop providing first-time users with an overview of the services and resources available from the State Library website. Explore highlights of the Library’s historical and contemporary collections, take a guided tour of the Library’s catalogues and research guides, and browse our exhibitions and events. Discover the range of journal and newspaper resources available from home using your Library Card. Basic computing skills are required.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Wednesday 12 September, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Thursday 13 September, 10.00 AM
Workshop: Reading Yesterday’s News
Join us for this hands-on workshop and learn more about the State Library’s newspaper collection and its strengths. Discover how to find newspapers in our computer catalogue, via our electronic databases and on the internet. Find out how you can access newspaper databases at home using your Library card. Explore selected historical and contemporary newspaper databases and take a guided tour of Australian Newspapers 1803 – 1954 available via the National Library of Australia’s Trove service. Basic computing skills are required.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Wednesday 19 September, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Wednesday 26 September, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Wednesday 3 October, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Thursday 4 October, 11.00 AM
Talk: Where Do I Start?
This talk introduces first-time users to the fantastic services and collections available at the State Library and will give you a good idea of where to begin your research.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Wednesday 10 October, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Thursday 11 October, 4.00 PM
Tour: Behind the Stacks:Backroom Tour
A walking tour of the backrooms and byways of the State Library including the historic Mitchell stack. Explore the spooky Mitchell stacks, peek into the preservation labs and explore the beautiful Shakespeare Room, in this extraordinary working building.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Wednesday 17 October, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Friday 19 October, 10.00 AM
Workshop: Social Networking for Beginners
Communicate with friends, family and make new contacts using two of the most popular social networking sites on the web: Facebook and Twitter. Set up a Facebook and Twitter account and learn how to read and send messages, read and contribute to live updates, make new friends and see how each site provides its own unique online networking experience. You will need to have an email account prior to attending the course.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Wednesday 24 October, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Wednesday 31 October, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Thursday 1 November, 11.00 AM
Talk: Where Do I Start?
This talk introduces first-time users to the fantastic services and collections available at the State Library and will give you a good idea of where to begin your research.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Wednesday 7 November, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Tuesday 13 November, 10.00 AM
Workshop: You and the Law
The law affects all of us in our everyday lives – the barking dog next door, a neighbour’s tree, moving house, managing money, shopping. Come along to You and the law and learn about how the legal system works. The staff of the Legal Information Access Centre will help you navigate the legal maze in this hands on workshop, exploring the State Library’s extensive legal collections, print and online.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
Wednesday 14 November, 3.00 PM
Tour: Walking Orientation of the State Library of NSW
A walking orientation tour of the State Library discovering the services and resources of the Mitchell Library and the State Reference Library - and some building mysteries along the way.This event is part of the Lifelong Learning series.
