Revisit Canberra: National Library of Australia | HerCanberra

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Revisit Canberra: National Library of Australia

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Typical of a travel brochure, many of our iconic Canberra attractions are really only ever visited by locals when family or friends come to town.

As was the case for Bethany Neville last month. Having only ever visited places such as Telstra Tower, Questacon and the National Museum of Australia for school excursions, complained about being dragged to them as a kid, or realising she had never actually ever checked them out, Beth decided to make a re-visit and live it list—for Canberra that is.

Over the next few months, she will rediscover these iconic Canberra tourist attractions, (the ones we’re all guilty of driving by each day without giving a second thought), but with new eyes, fresh enthusiasm and the determination to reinvigorate an appreciation for her home town all over again.

As a book lover, I’ve always been intrigued by the National Library of Australia (NLA). As a kid who frequented Kippax and Belconnen libraries often, I was very confused by the one that ruled them all—you know the national one; that huge, striking building full of books, but never allowed to take any home? It just didn’t make sense to me, and so I didn’t visit. While I completing my degree, friends would frequently tell me they were studying at the ‘nash but it was a long time before I learnt that a) ‘nash meant National Library, and b) it really was a great place to study.

After three years fighting for computer space in the Chifley Library at ANU, it became apparent that a book I needed for my thesis was only available at the National Library and so I was finally forced to investigate. I was blown away. Free to join and easy to use, you just find the book you need online and then grab a seat while the staff delivers it to the Main Reading Room. The National Library has computers galore, books that are unavailable anywhere else and a blissful silence, perfect for actually getting work done.

So by now I already knew the National Library was excellent for students and researchers. What I was still unaware of was just how much the National Library has to offer everyone else as well. In the stunningly beautiful marble foyer there’s Bookplate, a lovely café with excellent service, food and views over the lake. And the bookshop, which includes plenty of Australian fiction and history as well as speciality Australian gifts; all which could easily keep me browsing for hours.

After meandering through the foyer, I discovered the National Library’s Treasures gallery.

Wow.

National Library of Australia’s Treasures Gallery

All the items on display are from the Library’s own various collections—from paintings and manuscripts to maps and newspapers. The displays are changed regularly so it is worth coming back to. Upon my visit, I saw Captain Cook’s desk and journal, Patrick White’s glasses, paperwork from the landmark Mabo case, Banjo Patterson’s handwritten lyrics for Waltzing Matilda and paintings of birds and animals sighted during Cook’s voyages, just to name a few. So much of our country’s history and culture is showcased in this exhibition, demonstrating the incredible value of the library’s huge collection, which contains over 10 million items.

My favourite part of the Treasures exhibition was the NLA A- Z, where ‘A’ was for Austen, showcasing a handwritten letter from Jane to her sister, ‘G’ was Gumleaf Art, ‘I’ for illustration and framed drawings by Judy Horacek, ‘R’ was for an antique recipe book…and so on. Every letter provided a springboard to show off a unique item, something that is especially exciting for bibliophiles.

National Library of Australia’s Abstraction-Creation J.W.Power in Europe 1921-1938 exhibition

After being awed by the Treasures I decided to poke my head into the library’s other current exhibition: Abstraction–Création: J.W. Power in Europe 1921–1938, which runs until 26th of October. J.W. Power was an avant-garde Australian expatriate artist, and the exhibition showcases both his paintings and personal sketchbooks. It was fascinating to trace Power’s artistic life and style through the rooms of the exhibit, and admire his vibrant and detailed abstract artworks. Definitely worth catching while you can.

As much as I enjoyed being inside for so long, the Library’s location is perfect for a short walk by the lake too. There is so much to see, do and most importantly, to read at the National Library that I no longer mind that you can’t take the books home!

All images courtesy of National Library of Australia. 

The essentials

What: National Library of Australia

Where: Parkes Place, within the Parliamentary Triangle

When: Bookshop is open 9-5 everyday, galleries 10-5 everyday, café from 8.30 to 6 Monday to Thursday, till 4 on Friday and 10-3 on weekends. Reading room hours vary, but the Main Reading Room is open 9-9 Monday to Thursday, till 5 on Friday and Saturday and 1.30 to 5pm on Sundays.

Admission: Free

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