Newsflash:

The Library is open over the October long weekend, with reduced hours on Monday 2 October 2023. View the long weekend opening hours here.

What's On

I'm looking for

  • Exhibition
  • Free
  • On Site

Charles Rodius

17 Jun 2023 to 12 May 2024

Discover the story behind Australia's rejected and forgotten portrait artist, Charles Rodius (1802-1860).

Sydney Harbour from Cumberland Place watercolour
  • Exhibition
  • Free
  • On Site

For all time: Shakespeare in print

8 Jul 2023 to 25 Feb 2024

Immerse yourself in the world of Shakespeare in this exciting celebration marking the 400th anniversary of his First Folio.

  • Exhibition
  • Ongoing
  • Free

Paintings from the Collection

More than 300 original artworks from the Library’s unique collection of landscape and portrait paintings.

Oil painting. Panoramic scene of a harbour.
  • Exhibition
  • Ongoing
  • Free

Amaze Gallery

See our current exhibition — For all time: Shakespeare in print — on show now.

Family in For All Time exhibition, in the Amaze Gallery.
  • Talk
  • Online
  • Free

Shuxia Chen: Women and 1930s–1940s Sino-Australian relations

Tuesday
Tue 3 Oct 2023
  • series: Scholar Talks

Shuxia Chen investigates the role women played in Sino-Australian relations towards the end of WWII.

Black and white photographic headshot
  • Talk
  • Onsite
  • Free

History Now: food history

Wednesday
Wed 4 Oct 2023
  • series: History Now

Jacqui Newling and Anna Kharzeeva speak about using food to interrogate and interpret academic and social histories.

black and white photograph of children and adults eating food at a market
  • Special event
  • Onsite
  • Ongoing
  • Free

Trivia in the Library Bar

Wednesday
Wed 4 Oct 2023
  • series: After Dark in The Library Bar
  • series: Nights at the Library

Join us on the first Wednesday of each month for Trivia in The Library Bar, hosted by writer and editor Cathy Perkins

A wooden bookshelf has piles of books on top of it, and an open notebook with a pencil and a pair of glasses resting on top. Next to it is a glass of red wine.
  • Workshop
  • Online
  • Free

Family research: 7 strategies to get unstuck

Thursday
Thu 5 Oct 2023
  • series: Family History Month
  • series: Lifelong learning

Seven strategies to get your family research ‘unstuck’.

documents letters photographs family history
  • Exhibition
  • Free
  • On Site
Coming soon

Action! Film & War

7 Oct 2023 to 28 Apr 2024

An exhibition about the power of moving images to record and shape Australia’s history.

Black and white photograph of man with moving picture camera
  • Talk
  • Onsite
  • Free

Bennelong and Phillip

Monday
Mon 9 Oct 2023
  • series: Talks & Ideas
Professor Kate Fullagar details the history behind her innovative joint biography of Yiyura leader Bennelong and Governor Arthur Phillip.
Kate Fullagar
  • Virtual excursion
  • Free

Writing spooky stories

Tuesday
Tue 10 Oct 2023
  • series: Schools

Join us for a spooky creative writing journey!

Collage illustration of a cat and two children walking past a dark wall with eyes
  • Virtual excursion
  • Free

Gallipoli: in their words

Tuesday
Tue 10 Oct 2023
  • series: Schools

Delve into the State Library’s rich World War 1 collection to discover the lived experience of those who served at Gallipoli.