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The State Library of New South Wales

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The State Library of New South Wales

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For keeping up with exhibitions, events, news and services on offer at the State Library of NSW.

The State Library of NSW exists for the benefit and enjoyment of everyone who wishes to use its extensive range of services, collections, and facilities. This page is moderated as per the State Library’s Social Media Community Guidelines, found here: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/about-library/legislation-and-policies/reader-and-visitor-code-conduct

Proudly funded by the NSW Government.

09/11/2026

Don’t miss our three landmark photography exhibitions on right now!

View original prints and rarely seen images, alongside little-known stories capturing the people, places and moments that have shaped Australia.

📷 Definitive Dupain
🎞️ Lorrie Graham: Photojournalist
💡 Mervyn Bishop: Close Up

Our galleries, Library Shop, and Cafe are open everyday.

See what's on: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/whats-on

05/11/2026

Digital preservation in action! 🙌

For World Digital Preservation Day, we're shining a spotlight on the work of our Digital Curation team. This is Bryony, our Digital Archives Assistant.

The Library holds a large collection of digital material which is at risk of being lost due to changes in technology, including physical carriers like floppy disks, CDs and USBs.

To ensure that this material is still accessible in the future, our Digital Curation team carry out a range of tasks including:

💾 Transferring files from physical carriers to reduce the risk of degradation.
💻 Using specialised technology to assess material on obsolete devices or programs.
🗃️ Ensuring that digital material is stored and housed appropriately.
📀 Providing expert advice to staff across the Library.

Want to learn more? Enjoy this episode of History or Hoarding with Annabel Crabb on ABC listen: https://ow.ly/53a35101z0S

02/11/2026

Did you know the Library hosts free tours Monday to Friday?

Discover the stories behind current exhibitions with curator-led tours on Thursdays or learn about our historic spaces at our regular volunteer-led tours.

The Library also offers a selection of paid behind-the-scenes tours.

Here’s a look at what’s coming up in November:

🥼 Preservation and conservation
🗓️ Tue 10 Nov, 2pm

🎈 Discover the 200th Anniversary Exhibitions
🗓️ Thu 12 & 26 Nov, 11am and 5.30pm

📸 Discover Lorrie Graham: Photojournalist
🗓️ Thu 19 Nov, 11am

📚 Backstage pass
🗓️ Thu 19 Nov, 5.30pm

Spots are limited so bookings are essential!

Book here: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/tour

28/10/2026

Calling all Australian writers and publishers! 📣

Entries are now open for the 2027 NSW Literary Awards, offering $360,000 in prize money across 14 categories.

From poetry and scriptwriting to plays and translated books, the NSW Literary Awards celebrate a wide range of works that enrich our communities and help tell Australian stories in all their diversity.

Entries close at 5pm, 26 November 2026.

View guidelines and nomination form: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/awards/nsw-literary-awards

The Library administers the NSW Literary Awards on behalf of the NSW Government and Create NSW, with the support of Multicultural NSW, UTS Faculty of Design and Society and University of Sydney.

26/10/2026

Vale Robert French AM.

The Library is deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Robert French AM, prominent LGBTQ+ rights activist, author, historian and supporter of the Library.

In September 1990, Robert stood in front of the Mitchell Building with Mitchell Librarian Margy Burn to promote the Library’s strong interest in collecting diaries, letters and records of gay and le***an people and their communities.

Speaking to the Sydney Star Observer, Robert said: "They are permanent proof that our community has a history.”

Robert also played an instrumental role in helping to shape the Library's exhibitions Coming out in the 70s and Pride (R)evolution.

The Library also has an interview with Robert as part of our oral history collection. You can listen to it online here: https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/16AP2pgn

📸 Margy Burn and Robert French, State Library of New South Wales, Shakespeare Place Sydney, 1990. Photographer: Jamie Dunbar, courtesy City of Sydney Archives.

23/10/2026

The Songs of Sydney lineup has just been announced!

Join us for an unforgettable night of live music at our stunning rooftop bar on Tuesday 17 November.

Featuring performances by Akala Newman, CORIN, OKENYO, Pa777ience, Toby Martin (Youth Group) and Yasmina Sadiki.

These talented musicians will perform one song of their own and their favourite local song of all time on The Library Bar's grand piano.

Secure your spot: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/the-songs-of-sydney-2026

20/10/2026

Join us for our final Spring Sessions!

Meet your friends after work or study and catch a free sunset performance on the Library's forecourt this Wednesday 21 October from 5–8pm.

Enjoy a mesmerising live performance from ARIA nominated rapper and RnB vocalist Devaura and Salllvage on the DJ decks.

No bookings needed. Drop in anytime!

Learn more: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/spring-sessions

16/10/2026

The beauty of handwritten recipe books. 💛

This precious little recipe book was written in 1896 by Dorothy Osborne of Foxlow Station, Bungendore, NSW.

Compiled when she was in her early twenties, the book contains recipes for cakes, desserts, meat and savoury dishes. Dorothy frequently annotated the pages with helpful notes like 'P.S. Don't forget salt!'

Inside you’ll find recipes for everyday staples like tomato chutney and omelettes, as well as classic sweet treats including coconut ice, gingerbread and macaroons.

We have just digitised this book so that you can explore it in detail through our online catalogue.

View it here: https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/n7ordo3n/Zzl2EP8vvLJvJ

15/10/2026

Celebrating our 2027 Fellows!

Last night we awarded $274,000 in prestigious research fellowships, including two new creative residences and an architecture fellowship.

Our Fellows will dive into the depths of our collection to explore a range of subjects, from built environments to colonial portraiture, and even true crime, magic and skateboarding.

Research and scholarship are part of the Library's DNA and we look forward to building on this legacy through the newly established David Scott Mitchell Institute.

See the Library's 2027 Fellows: https://ow.ly/hkHh50ZXRkM

Learn about the David Scott Mitchell Institute: https://ow.ly/ZzyA50ZXRkL

09/10/2026

Discover Sydney's dark past at the Library this Halloween.

Descend five levels below ground for a spine-chilling stack tour and hear macabre stories from the collection.

You’ll find out about the sole survivor of the Dunbar shipwreck, the woman who lost her entire family in the Luna Park Ghost Train fire, the figure who inspired Charles Dickens’ Miss Havisham, and more ...

👻 Spooky stacks tour
🗓️ 26 & 27 October
⏰ 5.30pm – 6.30pm
🎟️ $15 – $20

Book here: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/spooky-stacks-tour

Address

1 Shakespeare Place
Sydney, NSW
2000

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 8pm
Tuesday	8am - 8pm
Wednesday	8am - 8pm
Thursday	8am - 8pm
Friday	8am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm
Sunday	10am - 5pm

Telephone

+61292731414

Website

https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/

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