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What’s got us talking

See extraordinary 19th century panoramas.

Panorama of Baltimore, Md., U.S.A., 1831 / drawn by Jacob Janssen

View the shortlists for the NSW Premier’s History Awards.

A selection of books shortlisted for the NSW Premier's History Awards

Join us for virtual excursions during Book Week.

Illustrated Australian birds

Find out more about our major building plans.

Collection buzz

Dye hard

The Tintex Girl brightened a world dulled by rationing.

A painting of the Tintex Girl by Edward Francis Cole, c 1920

The printer’s mark

That curious penguin on the spine of your favourite paperback isn’t there just for decoration.

Ashendene Press, 1922

The graphic design of Donald Fish

Boxes filled with artwork, illustrations, posters, photographs and advertisements mark an acclaimed designer's life.

The original artwork for a 1955 advertisement for Tooth’s KB beer. Both driver and locomotive are smiling — they know the end of the line is nigh

Take 5 trees

To mark the progress of the seasons, as the days become shorter and the temperature cools, we take a look at some trees in the Library's collection.

Boab tree, group of men and women, North Western Australia, c 1930, glass plate negative, Australian National Travel Association

Big bold botanicals

What could a twentieth-century artist’s book by surrealist Salvador Dali have in common with an early nineteenth-century French volume documenting the plants in a famous garden?

Flora Dalinae, flore, 1969 by Salvador Dali

Featured events

Exploring our Environment

Schools
Thursday
Thursday 11 August 2022 - 12:30pm to 1:15pm
Free
Virtual excursion

Take a walk with us and investigate our land’s unique geography.

Drawing of bushland
Learning
Online

Art.Explore.Create

Lifelong learning
Thursday
Thursday 11 August 2022 - 5pm to 7pm
Workshop

Unleash your creativity with our new art program for adults — Art.Explore.Create. Join us for this hands-on, creative series where you will be inspired by State Library exhibitions and collections, join a like-minded community and be guided by our art educators to develop your own creative practice.

A man sits at a table of art materials and paper
Onsite

Virus on the march? Military model and metaphor in the Covid-19 pandemic

Friends
Thursday
Thursday 11 August 2022 - 6pm to 8pm
Talk

What should a medical historian say when a general calls, asking for advice on a vaccine rollout during the pandemic?

Professor Warwick Anderson
Friends

A few of our favourite things: Exhibition Tour with Sarah Morley

Curator Talks
Thursday
Thursday 18 August 2022 - 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Free
Guided Tour

Join curator, Sarah Morley as she leads you through our exhibition galleries and shares some of her favourite collection item

Sarah Morley holding open a botanicals book
Onsite