NLA Fellow Dr André Brett uses the development of railway networks to interrogate the strong and enduring linkages between economic growth and environmental change.

Join Michelle Grattan in conversation with Dr Caroline Fisher as they discuss The Conversation's new book, 2020: The Year That Changed Us.

Join The Australian National University Lecturer and author of Goodna Girls, Adele Chynoweth, and National Library of Australia Director of Indigenous Engagement, Marcus Hughes, as they reflect on the lives and stories of the women of Goodna and the role of cultural institutions in preserving the stories and experiences of marginalised communities.

Goodna Girls tells the story of children incarcerated in Wolston Park Hospital, an adult psychiatric facility in Queensland. It contains the personal testimonies of women who relate—in their own no-holds-barred style and often with irreverent humour—how they, as children, ended up in Wolston Park and how this affected their adult lives.

Join Peter Freeman and Dr Rachael Coghlan as they explore the lives of early Canberra architects Malcolm Moir and Heather Sutherland – their work, their impact on the developing city, the times in which they lived, and the legacy that remains.

Peter Freeman is an author and Conservation Architect. His new book, 'THOROUGHLY MODERN: Moir + Sutherland Architects', studies the life and work of these two architects pivotal in the development of Canberra. Peter will be launching his book on Friday 20 November at the DESIGN Canberra Festival. More information about the book launch can be found online at: designcanberrafestival.com.au/

Dr Rachael Coghlan is CEO of Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre, and Artistic Director of the DESIGN Canberra Festival.

This partnered online event has been produced by the National Library in association with Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre, and the Design Canberra Festival.

On the anniversary of Walter Burley Griffin’s 1913 appointment as Federal Capital Director of Design and Construction, join Peter Graves and Liz Lea for an online talk connecting the Griffins’ design of Canberra, with Indigenous dance, and traditional Indian dance.

Did you know the National Library has a board games collection?

Not only do we have hundreds of board games dating as far back as the 1700s, the National Library is also home to the world's LARGEST board game, 'World in Flames'–we have the Guinness Book of World Records certificate to prove it!

Join board game enthusiasts Stuart Baines and Aaron Minehan, with illustrator and game designer Sam Milham, as they take a look at some of the unique board games hiding away on the shelves at the National Library.

While we can't loan out the board games in our collection, you can take a look at a selection here.

Grab your helmet and join long-time cycling enthusiast Daniel Oakman alongside National Library curator Susannah Helman as they talk about Daniel’s latest book, Wild Ride: Epic Cycling Journeys Through the Heart of Australia, and the collection material that tells the stories of the people behind these great cycling adventures.

Australia is home to breath-taking landscapes, as rugged as they are beautiful. Some are driven to explore these places on foot, some from the air, but this book tells the story of the courageous men and women who explored this beautiful country on two wheels.

Join father and daughter, and Gamilaroi and Dunghutti people, Rod and Marlee Silva (Co-Founder of Tiddas 4 Tiddas) as they share their hopes for the future of Indigenous Australia with reference to their own experiences, stories and dreams.

Marlee and Rod explore the importance of truth-telling in fostering cultural understanding and the cultural shift being driven through the Black Lives Matter movement. Although National NAIDOC week has been moved to 8-15 November 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Marlee and Rod also touch on the 2020 NAIDOC theme of 'Always Was, Always Will Be'.

Marlee Silva

Marlee Silva is a 24-year-old Gamilaroi and Dunghutti storyteller. She is the Co-Founder of Indigenous Female Empowerment Movement Tiddas 4 Tiddas which exists as an Instagram page and podcast of the same name. Marlee is also an author, with her debut novel My Tidda, My Sister set to be released in September 2020.

My Tidda, My Sister is available to pre-order now through the National Library of Australia Bookshop.

Rod Silva

Rod Silva is a Sergeant of NSW Police and a proud Gamilaroi and Dunghutti man.

'The more we are taking care of nature, the more we are taking care of ourselves.'

Last summer’s bushfires left Australia profoundly changed. Lives and homes were lost; almost 13 million hectares of bush was incinerated. Food and fuel systems broke down, and city-dwellers choked on toxic smoke. From this tumult and devastation, what new vision will emerge? How have the fires forced us to rethink ourselves, our communities and our relationships with nature?

Join social scientist Petra Buergelt, animal ecologist Dale Nimmo and planning expert Barbara Norman – whose family sadly lost a home in the fires – as they explore what will rise from the ash in the months and years ahead. Chaired by Nicole Hasham, Environment + Energy Editor at The Conversation.

Presented by The Conversation, the world's leading free, fact-based news source written by academics and edited by journalists and The National Library of Australia.

What is the Australian dream, and does it mean the same thing to us all?

Join us as cross-cultural consultant and author Tasneem Chopra OAM leads a thought-provoking discussion between writer and appearance activist Carly Findlay OAM, founder of YARN Australia Warren Roberts, and writer, gender equality and mental health advocate Tarang Chawla, on what the Australian Dream looks like for people from diverse cultural backgrounds and life experiences.

Further reading

A selection of titles mentioned in the panel discussion are available through the National Library of Australia Bookshop.