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Sydney Rare Book Week 

Welcome to Sydney Rare Book Week

23 to 28 October 2023

The Sydney Rare Book Week program includes free talks, workshops and tours that celebrate the importance of books, publishing, book production and collecting, and will be held at venues across Sydney.

The program concludes with the Sydney Rare Book Fair at MacLaurin Hall, University of Sydney, from Thursday 26 October 2023. 

Come and join us!

You need to register separately for each event. Registration details are provided for each session.

Browse through the program calendar on the right and click on individual events to book. 

Booking is free but attendance is limited. If you cannot attend, please cancel your booking to free up the space for someone else. 

Enquiries regarding the Sydney Rare Book Week to:

Julie Sommerfeldt
julie.sommerfeldt@sydney.edu.au

Tour: 11-12pm, 23 October
Sydney Mechanics School of Arts

Tom Keneally Centre

In celebration of Rare Books Week, the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts will...

Read Tom Keneally Centre
Workshop: 1-2pm, 23 October
City of Sydney: Customs House Library

Politics and progress: newly digitised items in the archives

The City of Sydney was formed in 1842 to administer a rapidly expanding city....

Read Politics and progress: newly digitised items in the archives
Workshop: 3-4pm, 23 October
University of Sydney Library
Workshop: 10.30-12pm, 24 October
University of Sydney Library
Workshop: 1.30-3.00 pm 24 October 2023 
University of Sydney Library 
Tour: 3:30-4:15pm, 24 October
State Library NSW

Behind the scenes: preservation and conservation

Come behind the scenes to see the Conservation Laboratory and the work...

Read Behind the scenes: preservation and conservation
Talk: 6-7pm, 24 October
State Library of NSW

20th Century first editions

Galloping through the 20th Century this talk will look at some of the notable...

Read 20th Century first editions
Drop-in: 10-12pm, 25 October
Writing NSW Callan Park

Which binding is that?

From the magnificent to the mundane, bookbinding has played one of the most...

Read Which binding is that?
Tour: 3.30-4.30pm, 25 October
Art Gallery of NSW

New Capon Research Library and National Art Archive

The Art Gallery of New South Wales recently opened a major new building on...

Read New Capon Research Library and National Art Archive
2-3PM, 25 October
Sydney Living Museum

Talk: A matter of taste

Most of us know what we like when it comes to design in the home, but how do...

Read Talk: A matter of taste
Talk: 5:30-7pm, October 25
Moore Theological College

Books of the Reformation

Printing played a pivotal role in the Protestant Reformation of the 16th...

Read Books of the Reformation
Live demo: 10.30-12.30pm, 26 October
Penrith Museum of Printing 

Experience the living history of printing

Witness live demonstrations of hand and machine typesetting and see printing...

Read Experience the living history of printing