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What’s got us talking

2019 Fellows Announced

Six prestigious research fellowships totalling over $100,000 have just been awarded.

Card catalogue with the card for 'Fellowships' visible

HSC – The Library is here to help!

About to start your exams? Or is your HSC journey just beginning? We're here to help.

The Bridge: a new Library podcast

This five-part series retraces the fascinating and tumultuous history of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. Listen now on iTunes, Google Podcasts or Soundcloud.

 

The Bridge: The Arch That Cut the Sky. A five-part series starring Australia's favourite icon, the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Enter our survey and you could win $100!

Help us improve our digital collections by completing a 5 minute survey, and you could win a $100 Westfield voucher.

Visitors using the Verandah space at the State Library of NSW.

Collection buzz

Mallarmé publications that broke the mould

It seemed to me that I was looking at the form and pattern of a thought, placed for the first time in finite space. 

Front Matter: un coup de dés jamais n'abolira de hasard, par Stéphane Mallarmé, Ed́itions de la Nouvelle revue française, 1914, State Library of New South Wales RHQ/1003

Across the curator’s desk: Elizabeth Gould letters, 1828-1839

Elizabeth Gould was the wife of ornithologist and artist, John Gould, and a talented natural history artist.

Crosshatched letters written in brown ink

Growing community gardens

The Library recently acquired a collection of 60 digital photographs documenting the growing trend of community-run gardens across Sydney.

Camperdown community garden

A plan for the Espresso Rialto Coffee Lounge

The Library has acquired the architectural plan for one of Sydney's first Italian style coffee bars. 

Espresso Rialto Coffee Lounge

Capturing counter-culture

These recently digitised photographs by Roger Marchant from the 1970s and 80s are a time capsule of the early alternative lifestyle movement in Australia.

Rainbow Archives - Roger Marchant

Coins from the Sir William Dixson collection

A spotlight on Australia’s early sovereigns.

Sovereign, 1855, Sydney Mint, Sir William Dixson Collection

Historic ceremony at Mungo National Park

New oral history collection about the historic Mungo Man repatriation process.   

Mungo Man: Interview subjects Maureen Reyland, Mary Pappin and Dawn Smith

A celestial pocket globe to complete the pair

The Library has recently acquired a celestial pocket globe from c1791 by London globemakers John and William Cary. 

Cary's New Celestial Pocket Globe 1791

Recent acquisitions on printing and papermaking

The Library actively collects material relating to the publishing industry, including the history of printing, paper making, book binding, intaglio, lithography and other production techniques.

Coloured pattern containing red, blue and yellow shapes

How we remember

One hundred years after troops landed at Gallipoli, the Library commissioned five professional photographers to document what the people of New South Wales did on 25 April 2015.

Featured events

Teachers' launch event

Thursday 25 October 2018 - 4:30pm to 6:30pm
Free
Special event

Join us and be the first to see our fabulous new Learning Centre at this exclusive event for teachers. 

students and teacher in light filled room

Conservator Talk: A big negative

Saturday 27 October 2018 - 2pm to 3pm
Talk

In 1875, some of the world’s largest ever wet-plate glass negatives were made in Sydney by photographer Charles Bayliss for Bernard Holtermann. In 1982, one of the plates broke into hundreds of pieces.

 

Holtermann negative photo

Mona Brand Award

Awards
Tuesday 30 October 2018 - 6pm to 8:30pm
Special event

Hear from Sue Maslin, Debra Oswald, Nicole Chamoun and Councillor Jess Scully discussing ‘WOMENS’ WORK’ the role of women writers, exciting work being produced in the stage and screen industries, future opportunities and challenges.

Mona Brand logo

Author Talk: Ross McMullin

Author Talks
Thursday 8 November 2018 - 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Talk

Will Dyson struggled to find a niche in his homeland despite his conspicuous talent as an artist and writer, but when he ventured overseas he became a stunning overnight success as a cartoonist. Join Ross McMullin for this illustrated lecture on Dyson's life and times.

Will Dyson book cover