Due to major building activity our onsite school programs are temporarily on hold and will return in Term 4, 2024. To book an onsite program in Term 4 please visit our bookings page.

Still hungry for learning? Our Digital Classroom brings together material from our collection into a series of learning modules, aligned to the Australian Curriculum.

Learn more about major building activity.

Our education program presents participants with an appreciation of role of the National Library as the world's largest storehouse of knowledge about Australia and its people.

We have curriculum-based school programs for years 5 to 12. The programs utilise the Library's exhibitions, collections and reading rooms as a springboard to find out more about Australian history and culture. Students critically interpret texts and learn search methods to understand historical and contemporary events and issues.

Fill in our online form to make a group booking for school programs.

For primary school students

Stacks of Stories: Library orientation tour

Through Canberra's best value discovery tour students can discover just what it takes to run the largest library in the Southern Hemisphere as they explore the National Library's role in Civics and Citizenship, information and visual literacy, writing and culture. Explore the Library's exhibition galleries and see the treasures on display.

For: Years 5 - 7
Availability: Tuesday to Thursday 9am - 5pm
Bookings: a minimum of two weeks notice required
Cost: $5 per student
Duration: 60 minutes
Group size: max 50

For secondary school students

Online and Underground

Secondary students discover the history and role of the National Library, and how to source imagery, sound and text using the website. Students will examine digitised collections and understand the significance of original primary resources recorded in UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme.

For: Years 10 - 12
Availability: Tuesday to Thursday, 9am - 5pm
Bookings: a minimum of two weeks notice required
Cost: $5 per student
Duration: 60 minutes
Group size: max 50

For teachers

Teacher’s know-how: Library skills outreach workshop

Incorporate a morning at the Library into your school's PD opportunities. Contact education staff at the Library to find out which reader education presentations are on offer and can be tailored for your school requirements. Alternatively, we can come to you - book us in for your next weekly staff meeting.

Availability: we visit - you pick the day and time
Bookings: 02 6262 1207 or bookings@nla.gov.au
Cost: free, at your place or ours
Duration: 60 minutes
Group size: max 50

Looking for something else?

To speak to an educator about tailoring a visit to suit your school students or teachers, contact us on 02 6262 1207 or email bookings@nla.gov.au