The State Library of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia | Government building

The State Library of New South Wales

Locality: Sydney, Australia

Phone: +61 2 9273 1414

Address: Macquarie Street 2000 Sydney, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au

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25.01.2022 Free school holiday activities for kids and families! Enjoy online writing workshops, art classes, storytime sessions and more. Listen to a story read by our State Librarian John Vallance ... Write with children’s book authors Kate and Jol Temple Create blackout poetry with Susan Draw funny faces with Andrea Paint like a book illustrator with Susan See what’s on this week: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/learning/kids-and-families

24.01.2022 Our librarians are always keen to give book recommendations! They've selected some sensational spring reads from our Critics' Picks collection in the Marie Bashir Reading Room. Check out their top titles here: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/bl/critics-picks-top-reads-spring

23.01.2022 This beautiful panorama captured by Melvin Vaniman shows Town Hall and the Queen Victoria Building in 1904. Can you see any other familiar sights? https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/digital/eJDyLDaKxVjzK

23.01.2022 Nothing beats a fresh makeover! We’re turning over a new leaf with Openbook, our magazine about books, libraries, art and ideas. Inside each issue you’ll find inspiring, thought-provoking and surprising stories by established and emerging writers, as well as library insiders. ... Expect a mix of feature articles, photo-essays, interviews, fiction, poetry, reviews, recipes, trivia and even DIY projects. Be one of the first 100 subscribers and you’ll receive a bonus new release from our friends at Allen & Unwin Books. More info and subscribe here: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/openbook

22.01.2022 Harry ‘Breaker' Morant is famous for the manner of his death, but little is known of his birth. During the Boer War of 1899 to 1902 Breaker Morant joined up to fight first with the South Australian Mounted Rifles and then with a South African irregular unit, the Bushveldt Carbineers. In October 1901 Morant and two other Australians, Lieutenants Peter Handcock and George Witton, were arrested for the murder of Boer prisoners. Morant and Handcock were court-martialled and execu...ted in February 1902, but the debate over their convictions continues to this day. In his latest book, 'Breaker Morant’ (Hachette Australia Books), author Peter FitzSimons unravels the many myths and fictions that surround Morant's life. Peter will be in conversation with Bruce Beresford and Stephen Romei next Tuesday 24 November, from 6pm. Register for the free online event here: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/author-talk-breaker-morant

20.01.2022 Masked up and keeping their distance on the streets of Sydney. Just over a century ago the world was gripped by an influenza pandemic, then known as the ‘Spanish Flu’. Highly contagious and virulent, the only way to limit the spread of the virus was through quarantine, isolation, good personal hygiene and suspending all public gatherings.... In 2020, the same measures have been put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19. Join Senior Curator Elise Edmonds today at 1 pm for a fascinating online talk about the history of pandemics in NSW. Free, register here: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/curators-choice-pandemic You can also see a collection of photographs, letters and ephemera from 1918-19 in our new PANDEMIC! display.

20.01.2022 As we come to the end of a strange year, join us to explore the strange and unusual tales of Sydney and surrounds. From mysterious murders to colonial ghost stories and phantom animals, find out what has intrigued and shocked Sydney over the years. Wed 2 Dec, at 10.30am... Free online event, register here: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/strange-sydney-1

18.01.2022 What books are on your reading list right now? Once a year for the Australian Reading Hour, Australia Reads encourages you to stop what you're doing for an hour, pick up a book and read to yourself or the children in your life. If you're stuck for inspiration, here are a few reading recommendations and helpful links:... See our top picks for spring https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/bl/critics-picks-top-reads-spring Download an ebook for free https://ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/login Pick up an award-winner from the Library Shop https://shop.sl.nsw.gov.au/product-c/award-nominated-books/ Discover a book in our Critics’ Picks collection https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/research-and-collec/critics-picks

18.01.2022 This National NAIDOC Week join Gamilaroi artist, writer and podcaster Travis De Vries for an online discussion with First Nations writers Jon Bell, Claire G Coleman and Brooke Scobie. The session will explore Indigenous futurism, speculative fiction and the ways Aboriginal creators are imagining a Blak future. Saturday 14 November 2020 ... 2pm to 3:30pm Tickets are free, register here: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au//fear-of-a-black-planet-creators

16.01.2022 Writer and actor Kate Mulvany defies the neat stories people write about her. ‘Everyone loves a peak,’ she says, ‘especially when it’s the country girl beating cancer but it’s the 16 hours a day at the desk stuff that they miss out on. Overnight success just doesn’t really exist.’ Read an extract of Kate Mulvany's interview with Bri Lee here: http://ow.ly/nnbd50Cv85C... The full story appears in our new-look magazine Openbook. Subscribe here: http://ow.ly/haSL50Cv85D

15.01.2022 Can you spot the Library in today's Mappy Monday? This whimsical vision of Sydney is the latest rare map to be added to our collection! Created by Harry J Weston in the 1930s, it includes quirky and comical illustrations for shops, buildings and landmarks, capturing many long-vanished city institutions.... There’s the teapot for the Bushell’s Tea Building, a snowman standing in for Snow’s Emporium and barrels to mark many of the city’s pubs. Learn more with our latest blog post: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/blogs/little-bits-nonsense See this fabulous map on display in our 'New to the Collection' exhibition, featuring 20+ new items the Library has acquired this year.

15.01.2022 Congratulations to the Year of 2020 on your impressive resilience and hard work! It’s safe to say that this year’s HSC was extra challenging for students. Bedrooms became schools and living spaces were suddenly filled with family members working from home. As many school, university and public libraries have been closed or operating shorter hours with restrictions on desk use, the Library’s reading rooms reached capacity early each day.... Here's what students had to say about finding 'a permanent place to study' at the Library: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/blogs/permanent-place-study

14.01.2022 We have lots of fun activities planned for Book Week this year! Students can enjoy free online workshops and talks from 19 October to 23 October. Hear from celebrated children’s authors and illustrators Jane Godwin, Gabrielle Wang, Jasmine Seymour, Felice Arena and James O'Loghlin. ... There are also art sessions, poetry classes and monster hunts. Bookings are essential. See what’s on and book here: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au//schools-and-teac/book-week-2020

14.01.2022 Looking for a unique Christmas gift for the book lover in your life? A subscription to our new-look magazine Openbook is perfect for anyone who's into books, libraries, art & ideas. Inside each issue you'll find inspiring, thought-provoking and surprising stories by established and emerging writers, as well as our Library insiders.... Our inaugural issue features stories by some of Australia's leading writers including Rick Morton, Bri Lee and Mark Dapin. Order a gift subscription here: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/openbook

12.01.2022 Today we remember Douglas Grant, an Aboriginal WWI soldier, draughtsman and factory worker. Born into a remote Aboriginal community in Far North Queensland around 1885, Douglas spent most of his childhood in Lithgow and then the Sydney suburb of Annandale. Douglas enlisted with the 34th Battalion in January 1916, though it is unclear how this happened at a time when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were excluded from military service. ... Upon finishing his training, Douglas was sent to the front lines in France. On 11 April 1917 he was wounded and captured at Bullecourt. During his incarceration, Douglas was tasked with receiving and distributing Red Cross parcels to fellow prisoners. He organised vital food packages, medical supplies and comforting goods. After the war, Douglas returned to his job as a draughtsman and later found work at the Lithgow Small Arms Factory. He also lobbied for Aboriginal rights and was active in returned servicemen's affairs. The Library is lucky to hold Douglas Grant's papers, receipts and delivery slips. View the collection here: http://ow.ly/MfrD50Cg9eX The Australian War Memorial

12.01.2022 We hope you enjoy this Sunday read "After a person dies, there is the game show. It is televised, though not as we might know it..." Award-winning author and journalist Rick Morton has written his first ever short story for our new-look magazine, Openbook.... Read an excerpt from 'The Contestant' here: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au///extract-contestant-rick-morton Learn more: http://sl.nsw.gov.au/openbook

12.01.2022 Looking to escape the heat this weekend? We have two fantastic FREE exhibitions opening today in our beautiful (air-conditioned) galleries! Coming out in the 70s: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/coming-out-70s New to the collection:... https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/new-collection Gabrielle Antolovich, CAMP Sex Lib Week Demo, Hyde Park, Sydney, NSW, July 1972, film still from footage shot by ABC. Peter De Waal Papers. Reproduced courtesy Gabrielle Antolovich and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Library Sales 1972 ABC

11.01.2022 There's nothing like the feeling of walking into a bookshop! If browsing bookshelves is your idea of retail therapy, be sure to stop by your favourite store this #LoveYourBookshopDay. Check out the Library Shop for award-winning titles, classic literature and popular children's books. ... You'll also find unique gifts and accessories, including beautiful silk scarves, artisan jewellery and tote bags, as well as greeting cards and wrapping paper. Shop in person, or online: http://shop.sl.nsw.gov.au/

10.01.2022 The HSC period is always a challenging time for Year 12 students this year especially so with disruptions due to COVID-19. We know students appreciate space to study away from home, and we are doing everything we can to make extra seating available inside and outside our two main reading rooms, while maintaining safe physical distancing. Learn more about what we are doing during the busy HSC period to ensure everyone can enjoy the Library safely: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au//visiting-library-during-hsc-time

09.01.2022 Happy birthday to literary icon Miles Franklin, born on this day in 1879! Miles Franklin (1879-1954) was born in Talbingo, a small town in NSW at the edge of the Snowy Mountains. She was best-known for her book 'My Brilliant Career' published in 1901, which the Bulletin described as a "a warm embodiment of Australian life, as tonic as bush air, as aromatic as bush trees, and as clear and honest as bush sunlight."... We are lucky to hold many of her personal photographs, letters and diaries in our collection even her favourite Waratah teacup! Help us transcribe the diaries of Miles Franklin to ensure future generations can learn about her remarkable life, work and legacy. Become a digital volunteer here: https://www.zooniverse.org//miles-franklins-diaries-1952-54

08.01.2022 Where are your favourite places to visit in the city? #TravelTuesday Take a trip down memory lane and enjoy these lovely photographs from our collection! Many journeys start with the help of Transport for NSW at Sydney’s Central Station.... For retail therapy and mesmerising architecture, Queen Victoria Building is the place to be. If nature and tranquility is what you need, look no further than The Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Drop by the Art Gallery of New South Wales for the latest exhibitions and contemporary art. And don’t forget to visit The State Library of New South Wales, the oldest Library in Australia! These images were captured by printer and bookseller Samuel Wood, c 1907-1956. View more here: https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/digital/Vwa768NPl8VBZ

07.01.2022 It’s World Teachers’ Day! Today, and every day, we’re sending our love to all the hardworking teachers out there. The Library is always here to support teachers with the best resources, learning activities and excursions.... So far this year we've hosted 105 virtual excursions and workshops for 12,232 students, teachers and parents. Find out more: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/learning/schools-and-teachers 'Teaching deaf children using a toy boat at the School for the Deaf' by Jack Hickson, c 1955

07.01.2022 Dear coffee, thanks for getting us out of bed every day! For #InternationalCoffeeDay we are sharing a short history of coffee in Sydney. Sydney’s first coffee was unloaded in 1788 with the First Fleet, who had picked up some coffee seeds and plants in Rio de Janeiro. ... The first coffee seedlings were planted at Government House, but due to differences in climate, they failed to become a commercially viable crop. By the 19th century, coffee was regularly imported into Sydney and some of the first Parisian-style cafés and restaurants serving coffee were opened. 'Lincoln Coffee Lounge & Cafe, Rowe Street, Sydney', by Brian Bird, c 1948-1952. https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/digital/mmdp0bZxLrvVy

06.01.2022 Entries are now open for the 2021 National Biography Award Australia's richest prize for biography and memoir writing. The overall winner will receive $25,000, with $5,000 awarded to the best debut biography or memoir. In addition, each shortlisted author will receive $2,000.... Entries close: Monday 8 February 2021 Guidelines & entry form: www.sl.nsw.gov.au/about-library-aw/national-biography-award

05.01.2022 Sorting out your summer reads? We're here to help! Five keen Library readers reviewed five of their favourite new releases. Here's what they had to say: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/blogs/five-five-book-reviews... All books are available from the Library Shop: https://shop.sl.nsw.gov.au/

05.01.2022 What do a visual 'lockdown' diary by a 99 year-old artist, the first printed star chart of the Southern Hemisphere, and an early book of modern zoology all have in common? They were all added to the Library's collection this year. See these alongside 20+ other amazing new additions - spanning centuries and collected from all over the world - on display for the first time in our 'New to the Collection' exhibition.... A free exhibition, on show until Sunday 3 January 2021. https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/new-collection

04.01.2022 Do you know the name of the man whose face is on our $20 note? Born on this day in 1880, it is Reverend John Flynn, the founder of what would eventually become the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia. In its inaugural year, the Aerial Medical Service (which changed its name to the Royal Flying Doctor Service in 1955) flew 50 flights to 26 destinations and treated 225 patients. ... Today, their national fleet is 77 planes strong, and is growing each year. 'Flying Doctor Service, Broken Hill, 17 October 1941', photographed for Pix Magazine. View more: https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/digital/ejQ46OKBQDOaA

04.01.2022 National NAIDOC Week starts today! The Library is celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture with an exciting line up of events, exhibitions and activities. Here are 6 ways you can get involved this NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee) Week: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au//6-ways-you-can-get-involved-nai

03.01.2022 Happy 100th birthday to Qantas! In August 1919, two young aviators embarked on a journey from Longreach to Darwin mapping out possible landing sites for aircraft. While journeying through the rough and roadless outback, Hudson Fysh and Paul McGinness formulated their ideas for a local air service. ... The company they founded was Qantas, and 100 years after their epic journey, it remains a globally recognised airline. This rare album contains the photographs taken by Fysh and McGuinness on their historic trip! Discover the origins of an Australian icon: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au//aviatio/origins-australian-icon

02.01.2022 Join us at the Library for a free screening of Capturing Change, a documentary following the work of World Press Photo prize winning photographer Matthew Abbott. Australian photographer Matt Abbott won second prize in the 2020 World Press Photo Contest, (Spot News, Stories category) for his photograph of a kangaroo trying to escape a wildfire, near a burning house in Lake Conjola, NSW. As he worked to record the catastrophic events of the 201920 Australian bushfires, Matt w...as followed by a documentary film crew who captured the effect of the fires on the people and the country. Enjoy free screenings of the documentary on: Thursday 8 October 1 pm & 5.30 pm Saturday 10 October 2 pm & 3 pm Tuesday 13 October 1 pm & 5.30 pm More info and book here: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/capturing-change Matthew Abbott will be speaking about his experiences photographing the bushfires at a special online event at 7 pm on Thursday 15 October. Register for his talk here: https://sl-nsw-gov-au.zoom.us//r/WN_m-YAxO5SRxa2_EdtEjDPjg

02.01.2022 Happy 85th birthday to Luna Park Sydney! On this day in 1935 Luna Park opened its doors to the public, with an entrance that has become one of Sydney's most famous faces. The park opened with lots of hair-raising rides and attractions, including:... Coney Island's Funny Land The Tumble Bug The Big Dipper The Dodgem The Whirler A few of these are still in action today! The Library holds an impressive Luna Park collection, showcasing its unique architecture, fantastic rides and fun-loving crowds.