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NLA News - homeJanuary 2006 Volume XVI Number 4


CALENDAR OF EVENTS

New Members Evening

Date: Tuesday 24 January
Time: 5.30 pm
Venue: Foyer
Cost: Free
Bookings essential:
(02) 6262 1698

 

 

 

 

For bookings, details of membership and subscriptions, contact:
Friends of the NLA
National Library of Australia
Parkes Place
CANBERRA  ACT  2600
Tel: (02) 6262 1698
Fax: (02) 6273 4493
Email: friends@nla.gov.au
Web site: www.nla.gov.au/friend

January Friends

Happy New Year dear Friends! I hope the festive season has been relaxing and has brought you some valuable reading time.

Can you believe it’s 006 already? We have a fabulous year ahead for you, and to kick it off there is a host of events accompanying our current exhibition, National Treasures from Australia’s Great Libraries. This landmark exhibition brings together more than 170 extraordinary items that have shaped our nation. Manuscripts, maps, drawings, paintings and objects—from the everyday to the exotic—have been drawn from the magnificent collections of Australia’s national, state and territory libraries as an initiative of the Council of Australian State Libraries (CASL). Managed by the National Library of Australia, the exhibition has attracted generous and unprecedented sponsorship support, especially from Principal Sponsor AAMI. Major sponsors are Qantas, The Australian newspaper, Hoyts cinemas, Animal Logic, Sofitel, SBS and ABC Local Radio. The Australian Government has supported the exhibition through its Art Indemnity Australia and Visions of Australia programs.

On Australia Day, we have three events in our beautiful air-conditioned building. To begin with, join us in following the journey cartographers began 400 years ago. As early as 1606 parts of the Australian coastline were surveyed by explorers from around the world. At 11.30 am on Thursday 26 January, take a journey through our map collection and discover how the rest of the world gradually became aware of Australia. At 12 pm and 1 pm we have two Behind the Scenes tours during which you will find out how the Library works and some of its secrets. At 2 pm the curator of National Treasures, Margaret Dent, will give her only public lecture on the exhibition, Corsali to Chamberlain, in the Theatre. Come along and hear first-hand the stories behind some of these incredible objects. There will also be time to ask Margaret questions. Bookings for all our Australia Day events are essential, on (02) 6262 1271.

If you are more a cocktails and frocks person, the Amazing Women Cocktail Party will be held at 6.30 pm on Friday 3 February. Deborah Thomas, Editor-in-Chief of the Australian Women’s Weekly, will interview a number of high profile women, including Mary Kostakidis, before National Treasures opens for an exclusive viewing. Tickets are $35 and refreshments will be provided. Bookings are essential, phone (02) 6262 1271 or email rsvp@nla.gov.au.

I have good news for all interstate Friends. The National Treasures exhibition is touring to every capital city over the next two years. To find out when it will visit your state or territory library, go to our website and click on National Treasures or go directly to nationaltreasures.nla.gov.au

All the best for the remainder of the holiday season.

JILLIAN EDWARDS
Acting Executive Officer
Friends of the National Library of Australia

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