Illustrated flowers and insects details from the front cover of the book 'Flora: Australia's Most Curious Plants'.
Cover detail from 'Flora: Australia's Most Curious Plants'.

Plant the seeds of creativity this month and watch your ideas grow. Learn about writing family stories, find out about a famous Shakespearean hoax, celebrate NLA Publishing’s newest children’s book and attend a very special dinner with celebrated photographer William Yang.

Program
 

  • Memory to manuscript: Publishing family stories
    Wed 4 September | 6.00pm to 7.30pm | Free
    Join authors Tess Scholfield-Peters, André Dao and Sam Vincent in conversation with journalist Virginia Haussegger, as they discuss their experiences of writing books that focus on telling the story of a family member.
  • Book launch: Always Was, Always Will Be by Thomas Mayo
    Thurs 5 September | 6.30pm to 7.30pm | Free
    Author Thomas Mayo and a panel of special guests will discuss Mayo's latest book, Always Was, Always Will Be, and explore how we can renew the momentum of reconciliation in Australia. Following the discussion, Thomas Mayo will be available for book signings.
  • The Great Debate: Does social media unite or divide us?
    Tues 10 September | 5.00pm to 7.00pm | $15 per person
    Listen to a lively evening of discussion and debate as Professor Lisa Given and Distinguished Professor Anthony Elliott AM explore the power of social media to bring us together or tear us apart. Podcast host and journalist Ginger Gorman will moderate the debate.
  • In Conversation: 2024 Prime Minister's Literary Awards winners
    Fri 13 September | 6.00pm to 7.30pm | $25 General admission | $22 Concession/Friends
    Who will be the winners of the 2024 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards?
    Come and celebrate the award recipients in conversation with the Artistic Director of the Canberra Writers Festival Beejay Silcox as they discuss the writing experience.
  • Clever Country: An Aboriginal perspective on landscape
    Wed 18 September | 6.00pm to 7.30pm | $20 Friends or AGHS Members; $25 Non-members; $11 Members livestream only; $16 Non-members livestream only
    The Friends of the National Library of Australia and the ACT Monaro Riverina Branch of the Australian Garden History Society (AGHS) hold their annual joint lecture, presented by Adj. Professor Margo Ngawa Neale.
  • Fakespeare: The story of the Vortigern hoax
    Friday 20 September | 6.00pm to 8.00pm | Free
    Be entertained and informed by Dr Kate Flaherty, senior Lecturer in English and Drama at ANU, and actors from Bell Shakespeare as they uncover one of the most amusing and successful literary hoaxes of all time.
  • Book launch – Flora: Australia’s Most Curious Plants
    Sunday 22 September | 10.30am to 11.15am | Free
    Local award-winning children's author and illustrator Tania McCartney will be launching her newest children’s book Flora: Australia's Most Curious Plants with a book signing and a range of floral craft activities. Suitable for children aged 5 and up.
  • Happy Mardi Gras: An evening with William Yang
    Friday 27 September | 6.30pm to 10.30pm | $114.50 per person
    Join us for a special evening with distinguished Australian photographer William Yang. Over a three-course dinner in Bookplate, with drinks and coffee included, listen to William give a talk about his work and the current exhibition at the Library, William Yang's Mardi Gras.
  • Migration history day at the National Library
    Tuesday 24 September | 9.30am to 5.15pm | $30 per person
    Advance your research with a full-day seminar on Australia's migration history, featuring panel discussions, presentations from current and former National Library Fellows and a keynote address from author Alice Pung.
     

For more information about each event and bookings please visit the relevant event webpages.

To arrange an interview with a spokesperson about any event, please contact 0401 226 697 or media@nla.gov.au

Contact 

Mirelle O’Mara, Media Liaison, National Library of Australia  

M: 0401 226 697

E: media@nla.gov.au