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We're open every day over the Australia Day long weekend, with reduced opening hours on the Australia Day public holiday, Monday 28 January. More information ›

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What’s got us talking

Family History Building Blocks

'Launch into Library Research' with our family history librarians.

This full day workshop includes a presentation by Danielle Lautrec from the Society of Australian Genealogists (SAG).

Colonial family portrait 1860s watercolour by R. Grindell

Q&A with Dr Naomi Malone

The Chair of our Inclusion Advisory Committee has a passion for making the Library more accessible. Read all about it.

A woman wearing a blazer smiles at the camera, standing off-centre.

80Hz: Part 2 - Sound and Tech

Julian Wessels from Sonar Sound talks about the process of turning paintings into audio for the architectural sound experience 80Hz Sound Lab.

The Molly Trolley

Do you know what a 'Molly Trolley' is? It originated here, at the State Library of New South Wales.

A Molly Trolley in the Mitchell Library Reading Room.

Collection buzz

Book of Hours

View our newly digitised Book of Hours, featuring 14 large miniatures, framed by pink marble columns or brown bands, and enter the world of an illuminated manuscript.

Places of Industry - works by Jeff Rigby

The Library has recently acquired a series of 25 works by Blue Mountains-based artist Jeff Rigby.

Delprats Mine

One hundred years of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie

It’s one hundred years since May Gibbs’ much loved gumnut brothers, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie found their way into the hearts and homes of Australians.

Cover for Snugglepot and Cuddlepie : their Adventures Wonderful

Rose de Freycinet poem

A recent addition to the collection, a poem dedicated to Rose de Freycinet, shows us how this remarkable woman was perceived by those she met on her voyage around the world.

Text of a poem in French

Who was Kath?

The Library recently acquired an album of photographs, with no details of the owner or the subjects of the photographs – except for one named person. But who was Kath?

Austinmer 1930

F. S. Burnell's album

Australian journalist and radio presenter, Frederick Spencer Burnell's (1880-1958) was as a special correspondent with the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force during World War One. His recently digitised album contains 99 black & white photographs that documenting this experience.

Burnell WW1 PXA 2165 SLNSW 009

Featured events

Yoga at the Library

Yoga at the Library
Tuesday
Tuesday 5 February 2019 - 7am to 8am
Special event

Come and salute the sun in the Library! Start your morning by combining movement, art and breath in our new galleries. 

Yoga at the Library

Scholar Talk: William Macarthur and the empire of science

Scholar Talks
Tuesday
Tuesday 5 February 2019 - 11am to 12pm
Talk

William Macarthur played an important role in the emergence of science for industry. Born in NSW in 1800, Macarthur’s many interests, whether classing wool, making wine or classifying eucalypts, led him to connect with a community of international thinkers transcending the politics of nation states: the so-called empire of science.

photo album of various black and white images

ALIA Rare Books and Special collections online

Monday
Monday 11 February 2019 - 6pm to 7:30pm
Talk

Join us for our a series of short presentations featuring online projects dedicated to Rare and Special collections.

Norman Lindsay & The Magic Pudding

Tuesday
Tuesday 12 February 2019 - 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Special event

Join Helen Glad and Robert Holden for this illustrated talk about Lindsay and the historical and cultural significance of The Magic Pudding.

Coloured illustration of a personified pudding, basin for a hat, with long skinny arms and legs.