Learning at the Library
The National Library is Australia's premier public research library, containing more than 9 million items, ranging from significant colonial paintings to striking digital photographs; manuscript maps to the latest remote-sensing images; a vast collection of traditional music recordings and oral history interviews with Australians from all walks of life; publications in all formats from the earliest hand-printed books, newspapers and magazines, to millions of archived web pages.
The Library is an ideal destination for teachers with primary or secondary school-aged students exploring Information and Communication Technology, Australian History and Culture, Civics, and Citizenship. To assist groups in the use of this rich resource, fun informative events, workshops, presentations and tours are available to support all curriculum topics.

Getting started
If you are visiting for the first time see our page for new users, and explore resources in our Reading Rooms. If you want to take a quick look around the building, and see its facilities and artwork, visit the online image gallery.
Reader education
Reader Education are special sessions conducted regularly for new National Library users. These sessions help readers to use the Library's website and collections, request books from home, as well as effectively search the catalogue and link to online resources in the Library.
School programs and tours
Find out about the range of different school programs and tours available for visiting primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities
General public tours of the National Library's unique exhibitions and secret librarian's business behind the scenes are also available for members of the public
Planning your school visit
In an effort to make your visit to the National Library of Australia as enjoyable and beneficial as possible for, please read and consider this information before making a group booking to visit the Library's reading rooms, collection areas or exhibition gallery.
For teachers
Teacher’s know-how: Library skill sessions
- availabilty:
- bookings: 02 6262 1271 or bookings@nla.gov.au
- cost:
Incorporate a morning at the Library into your schools PD opportunities in 2008. Contact education staff at the Library to find reader education presentations are on offer and can be tailored for your school requirements.
Teacher preview evenings
Enjoy a glass of wine, relax and learn about education programs, special collections, and the exhibitions on display.
A Modern Vision: Charles Bayliss photographer 1850 - 1897 Tuesday 22 July 2008, 3.45pm - 5pm
Teachers' Christmas Party Tuesday 2 December 2008, 4 - 6pm
Teaching demise and destruction with Shakespeare
- availabilty: Saturday 9 August, 9.45am – 4.00pm
- bookings: 1300 552 271 or education@bellshakespeare.com.au
- location: Conference Room
- cost: $150 (incl. GST) includes lunch
A full day designed for teachers, exploring Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet: discover practical ways into the plots with professional actors who reveal dramatic techniques concealed in the texts.
Australian schoolyard astronomy
- availabilty: Tuesday 19 August, 4.30 – 7pm
- bookings: 02 6262 1271 or bookings@nla.gov.au
- location: Ferguson Room,
- cost: $5, includes refreshments
Try fun ideas for astronomy lessons with author Ragbir Bhathal as part of Science Week. See out-of-this-world images and charts from the Library’s Maps Collection. Ragbir's accompanying publication Australian Backyard Astronomy can be purchased at the Library bookshop.
The collaborative art of picture books
- availabilty: Wednesday 20 August, 6pm
- bookings: 02 6262 1271 or bookings@nla.gov.au
- location: Theatre
- cost: free
Ann James and Margaret Wild have created four picture books together, and as part of Children’s Book Week discuss their passion for collaborating on writing and illustration for young people. Part of Children's Book Week.

For students
Student day: Bell Shakespeare education
- availabilty: Friday 8 August, 10:30am – 2:00pm
- bookings: 02 6262 1271 or bookings@nla.gov.au
- location:Conference Room
- cost: to be advised
Actors at work, courtesy of Bell Shakespeare, lead a workshop for secondary school students to read scripts and develop theatrical ideas responding to tragedy.
Student day: Words, pictures… book!
- availabilty: Wednesday 20 August, 12pm – 2.30pm
- bookings: 02 6262 1271 or bookings@nla.gov.au
- location: Theatre
- cost: $20 per student
With author Ann James, students learn the art of writing and illustrating books. In association with Children’s Book Week and the Lu Rees Archives. A great program for secondary English, Design and Visual Arts students.
Student day: Charles Bayliss
- availabilty: Thursday 25 September, 9.30am – 12.30pm
- bookings: 02 6262 1271 or bookings@nla.gov.au
- location: Conference Room
- cost: $20 per student
An exploration of the extensive historical photographic collection of the National Library of Australia for photography students.

Digital discovery
Increasingly, cultural expression in Australia is in digital form. Focus on learning with online information from the National Library. Visit the Library's digital collections to discover James Cook's Endeavour journal, Prime Minister Edmund Barton's papers, early Australian newspapers, scores for Waltzing Matilda and Advance Australia Fair, early Dutch charts of Terra Australis, and designs illustrating Walter Burley Griffin's vision for Canberra.
For online education and information, use the many digital resources available through and supported by the National Library of Australia. Many sources are available to help you - published books, original documents, maps, photographs, pictures, sound, film and internet.
For kids and families
For more information about the Library's program of school holiday events, fun films, games and activities for children and families join our mailing list education@nla.gov.au. Explore the current exhibition Bridging the distance with our room brochure and children's activity sheet.
Be a library detective!
A new children’s Find It! trail is designed to lead kids and families through the Library’s art and the reading rooms. Collect your free copy at reception.
Storytelling (ages 4-5)
- availabilty: Wednesday 9 & 16 July, & 13 August, 10.30 – 11.15 am
- bookings: bookings@nla.gov.au
- location: Brindabella Room
- cost: Gold coin donation
Share a captivating story by an Australian children’s author followed by an interactive activity. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Bugs, beasts, bookplates (ages 5-7)
- availabilty: Thursday 10 July, 10 am – 12pm
- bookings: bookings@nla.gov.au
- location: Brindabella Room
- cost: $5
Take inspiration from the Library’s publications for children and create your own bookplate design based on your initials.
Heads and faces (ages 8-12)
- availabilty: Thursday 17 July, 10 am – noon
- bookings: 02 6262 1271 or bookings@nla.gov.au
- location: Brindabella Room
- cost: $10
Busts of eminent Victorians are a starting point for children to learn about and create portraits inspired by the Library’s Pictures collection.
Design a bookplate (ages 8-12)
- availabilty: Thursday 9 October. 2008, 10am – 12pm
- bookings: 02 6262 1271 or bookings@nla.gov.au
- location: Brindabella Room
- cost: $10
Explore the Library's extensive collection of bookplate illustrations before designing your very own.
School holiday films
Gumnutz (2007), 80 mins, G, animation
- availabilty: Wednesday 9 July, 2pm
- bookings: RSVP to join our mailing list for kids' activities: education@nla.gov.au
- location: Theatre
- cost: gold coin donation
Running a gumnut juice company is fun for talented young numbat Claude, until Charlie the fox sets out to discover his secret formula. What’s the secret ingredient? A Big Pix/ Flying Bark co-production
Dr Plonk (2007) 85 mins, G
- availabilty: Thursday 10 July, 2pm
- bookings: RSVP to join our mailing list for kids' activities: education@nla.gov.au
- location: Theatre
- cost: gold coin donation
Dr Plonk, a scientist & inventor in 1907, predicts that the world will end in 101 years, unless something is done about it. A comedy in the Charlie Chaplin / Buster Keaton tradition, courtesy Australian Film Commission
Elephant Tales (2006), 92 mins, G
- availabilty: Wednesday 16 July, 2pm
- bookings: RSVP to join our mailing list for kids' activities - education@nla.gov.au
- cost: Theatre
- cost: gold coin donation
Zef and his little brother, Tutu, are two happy elephants roaming the plains of Africa, until they meet poachers, and learn that bravery comes in all shapes and sizes, and family is wherever you make it. Courtesy of Australian Film Commission
For teens
Drawing with the camera obscura
- availabilty: Thursday 17 July, 2 – 5 pm, Conference Room
- bookings: 02 6262 1271 or bookings@nla.gov.au
- location: Brindabella Room
- cost: $90 per session
Artist David Hodges explores the uses of this unique drawing device. The workshop includes examples and demonstrations. Cameras and some materials supplied. For ages 12 years and over.
For adults
Whether you want to learn something new or participate in fun social activities and entertainment, the Library offers exciting events and activities. Find out what's on and select from our listing of workshops, talks, lectures, films and performances, conferences available throughout 2008, as well as our exhibition program.
Making easy photo albums
- availabilty: Saturday 16 August, 10.30 am - 4.30 pm
- bookings: 02 6262 1207 or bookings@nla.gov.au
- location: Brindabella Room
- cost: $210.00/ Friends of the Library $180
Artist David Hodges teaches you to make a range of small, stitched albums suitable for photographs, using simple elegant Japanese techniques. Includes demonstrations and some materials. A workshop in assocation with

