National Library of Australia

02/11/2026

We’re excited to announce that 45 community organisations have received Community Heritage Grants (CHG) in the 2026 round.

CHG supports community organisations to care for Australian cultural heritage collections of national significance.

Among this year’s recipients are the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation and the Broken Hill City Art Gallery.

The CHG program is funded by Australian Government through the AusGov Office for the Arts, National Library of Australia, National Archives of Australia, NFSA - National Film and Sound Archive of Australia and National Museum of Australia.

Find out more: https://www.library.gov.au/news-media/2026-community-heritage-grant-recipients

[Image description: Image 1: Room in the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, with collection items on the wall and in glass display cases on a green carpet, courtesy of Helen Laffin, Senior Heritage Collections Co-ordinator/Curator.

Image 2: Jonetani Rika, an elderly man wearing a shirt with black, grey and yellow stripes, smiling at the camera, courtesy of Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation.

Image 3: Broken Hill City Art Gallery art store, a room filled with metal racks holding numerous framed paintings and artworks on wheels, courtesy of Broken Hill City Art Gallery.]

01/11/2026

Stunning new picture books from NLA Publishing are available in bookshops from today!

Congratulations Neridah McMullin and Jessica Corkran on the release of Paddle Steamer Pearl!

Congratulations Cassy Polimeni and Evie Barrow on the release of Swimming with Aunty Isobel!

Congratulations to Julie Murphy and Annie White on the release of Bird Park, their follow up to Dog Beach, which is also available from today in a board book format!

Our children’s titles bring the National Library’s collections to your bookshelves, and we are so excited for each of these beautiful books to meet their readers.

Check them out and order your copies today: https://brnw.ch/21x6OmI

[Image description: Four large books, Paddle Steamer Pearl, Dog Beach, Swimming with Aunty Isobel and Bird Park, arranged in a square, with the smaller board book edition of Dog Park sitting on top.]

30/10/2026

We were honoured to have Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) President Lisa Bateman at the Library to formally hand over a portrait of our former Director-General, Dr Marie-Louise Ayres.

Painted by Amanda Oei Wells at the 2026 ALIA Conference, this vibrant portrait will be added to our collection and preserved for future generations.

[Image description: Two women holding a framed portrait of a woman with short grey hair smiling.]

29/10/2026

One room, more than 1,000 works of art. 🖼️

Hidden behind the moveable racks in our Art Store are works by some of Australia’s most celebrated artists. From portraits and landscapes, to maps and charts, many of these works have been digitised, and can be explored online through Trove.

Discover more about our pictures collection: https://brnw.ch/21x6Kfp

[Video description: Various shots of artworks hanging on sliding metal storage racks.]

27/10/2026

Have you ever tried rock climbing? 🧗

Rock climbing involves scaling large rock formations or artificial walls often with the use of ropes, harnesses and other protective equipment.

It wasn’t until the early 1920s that rock climbing became popular in Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania, with women integral to the movement.

The sport then spread to the rest of Australia after World War II when it became dominated by men.

It is only since the 1990s that women have re-entered the sport in significant numbers.

These photos were taken last year by Simon Carter's Onsight Photography and Publishing for our Regional Sport and Competitive Events Photography Project, which aimed to document sports and competitive events not already represented in our collections.

Explore highlights from this collection in our current Collection in Focus display: https://brnw.ch/21x6GO4

[Image description: Image 1: A rock climber is scaling a large, textured rock face outdoors. Cliffs featuring green foliage are visible in the background.

Image 2: An overhead shot captures a rock climber ascending a large, textured rock face. The climber, wearing a turquoise top and purple pants, is actively gripping the rock with their hands while secured by climbing gear and ropes.

Image 3: Two rock climbers stand next to a rock face. They are both wearing helmets and equipped with an array of climbing gear.]

23/10/2026

22/10/2026

NLA Publishing’s 'Peculiar Parents' has received the 2026 Whitley Award for children’s book of the year by the NSW Royal Zoological Society.

The Whitley Award is named for Gilbert Percy Whitley, curator of ichthyology at the Australian Museum from 1922 to 1965, pictured here with other notable scientists of the time.

Our congratulations to Dr Stephanie Owen Reeder Author and Ingrid Bartkowiak Art for another well-deserved recognition of this wonderful work.

[Image description: The book cover of Peculiar Parents, a gold Whitley Award Winner 2026 sticker and a photograph of Gilbert Percy Whitley with 4 other men, all on a light blue background.]

20/10/2026

Dr Samantha Disbray talks about the intersection of the Western Desert Art movement and the output of the Papunya Literature Production Centre.

Learn more about the exhibition and book of the same name, ‘Wangka Wakanutja: The Story of the Papunya Literature Production Centre.’ On now at the National Library: https://brnw.ch/21x6yrY

[Video description: A woman presents to camera. In the background we see the Wangka Wakanutja exhibition at the National Library.]

20/10/2026

Ever wondered how we care for photographs that are more than a century old? 🎞️

Our Collection Care team uses a humidification chamber to help preserve fragile photographs and ensure they can be accessed and enjoyed for generations to come.

Find out more about how we preserve collection material: https://brnw.ch/21x6wYI

[Video description: Multiple shots of a staff member wearing a white T-shirt, black gloves and a black apron caring for historical photographs in a humidification chamber. Moisture is released into the chamber through a tube. A large box containing the photographs is opened, followed by close-up shots of the photographs.]

18/10/2026

Looking for free weekend children’s activities? Come along to the Library in November for 2 special children’s book launches.

On 7 November, we’re celebrating Bird Park with a reading from the author and illustrator, followed by a visit with our feathered friends from Canberra Walk in Aviary.

On 21 November, we’re joined by the author and illustrator of Paddle Steamer Pearl. After a reading, participants can build their own wooden boat and sail it in our outdoor fountain!

Places are limited and early booking is recommended. Head to our events page for everything you need to know: https://brnw.ch/21x6v6R

[Image description 1: An illustration of a paddle steamer boat named Alpha on a river with people looking on from the shore. A pelican in flight is featured in the top left corner.

Image description 2: Illustrated book cover of Paddle Steamer Pearl shows a young girl on board a paddle steamer boat with pelicans flying overhead.

Image description 3: An illustration of birds in a park with a pond, behind an ornate fence with the gate partly open.

Image description 4: Illustrated book cover of Bird Park features different species of Australian birds perched in a gum tree.]