Filter by
City Of Sydney
State Library of NSW

Design for discovery: Shaping libraries through architecture

When
  • Tuesday 14 July from 6pm to 7pm
Cost

Free

A library’s architecture is more than a container for books; it is an invitation to explore. This lecture traces how library design has evolved, from quiet reading rooms to flexible learning spaces and digital labs. Alongside the story of the State Library’s own architectural history, it also examines notable developments in libraries around NSW, showing how different communities have responded to changing ideas about knowledge, accessibility and creativity.

This lecture is part of a series curated by Mitchell Librarian Richard Neville, reflecting on the history of the State Library of NSW. From the founding stories of this iconic institution to its evolution across 200 years, the series examines how libraries collect, preserve and share knowledge, imagination and creativity across generations.

Photograph: Liverpool Civic Place, fjcstudio

Other events at State Library of NSW

Mervyn Bishop: Close Up

Mervyn Bishop: Close Up

A rare glimpse behind the lens of one of Australia’s most important photographers.
Today 10am to 5pm
The Paintings Gallery

The Paintings Gallery

More than 300 original artworks of landscape and portrait paintings on permanent display at the State Library of NSW.
Today 9am to 8pm
Spring Sessions

Spring Sessions

A live music series bringing the library’s leafy Macquarie Street forecourt to life.
16 Sep 2026
Earth Flow

Earth Flow

William Barton presents ‘Earth Flow’, a work honouring the living systems of memory and interconnected knowledge.
18 Sep 2026
A Night at the Library

A Night at the Library

Bell Shakespeare’s ‘A Night at the Library’, written by Joanna Erskine, takes audiences on an epic quest.
20 Sep 2026
Defining Dupain

Defining Dupain

A conversation about the research, discoveries and curatorial decisions behind the definitive Max Dupain exhibition.
23 Sep 2026
The Scott Sisters: Pioneers of Science and Art

The Scott Sisters: Pioneers of Science and Art

An immersive new multimedia work created by Skye McIntosh, Artistic Director of the Australian Haydn Ensemble
25 Sep 2026