Welcome to the September eNEWS.

This month highlights the extraordinary calibre of writers who will be speaking at the Library's upcoming literary conference, The Flight of the Mind: Writing and the Creative Imagination.

A Major National Library Conference

The Flight of the Mind:
Writing and the Creative Imagination

How does an author make the journey from inspiration to publication? Just what is the writer's journey?

Join some of Australia's finest writers for a conference brimming with ideas for writers, readers and anyone interested in the creative process.

Featured writers include: Geraldine Brooks, Alex Miller, Peter Goldsworthy, Andrea Goldsmith, Rodney Hall, Judy Horacek and Steven Conte.

Saturday and Sunday, 24 - 25 October
Cost: $110 for both days
Concessions and single-day tickets available

Conference Program is available at the Flight of the Mind website

Bookings: 02 6262 1565 or bookings@nla.gov.au

Supported by the Copyright Agency Limited (CAL)'s Cultural Fund, the Ray Mathew and Eve Kollsman Trust and Alison Sanchez

Geraldine Brooks Presents the Inaugural Ray Mathew Lecture

In 2002, the National Library learned that it was to be the recipient of a generous bequest from Mrs Eva Kollsman. This bequest was used to establish the Ray Mathew and Eva Kollsman Trust in 2007.

Mrs Kollsman wished to commemorate her close friend, Ray Mathew, an Australian writer who had lived with her in Manhattan for a number of decades until his death in 2002.

In honour of this bequest, the Library has established a lecture series featuring Australians living abroad.

In October, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks will be giving the Inaugural Ray Mathew Lecture on the topic of 'The Opportunity of Distance'. Now based in the United States, Brooks is a former correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and the author of three novels and two works of non-fiction.

Thursday 22 October, 6 pm
Free, a book signing will follow
Bookings essential: 02 6262 1565 or bookings@nla.gov.au

Visit What's On for more details

Supported by the Ray Mathew and Eva Kollsman Trust

Photo by Randi Baird

Tripod Take Flight

The Library's major literary conferences have a wonderful tradition of light-hearted and enjoyable Conference Dinners, and this year will be no exception.

Wine and dine with Australia's best writers at The Great Hall, The Australian National University, as Australian musical comedy act Tripod provide their own unique slant on the 'flight of the mind' during the Library's Pre-conference Dinner.

Friday 23 October, 6.30 pm
Cost: $90
Bookings: 02 6262 1565 or bookings@nla.gov.au
(Priority given to conference attendees)

Prime Minister launches a 'good yarn'

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was at the Library recently to launch Thomas Keneally's new book, Australians: Origins to Eureka.

Keneally, a past winner of the Booker Prize and the Miles Franklin Award, said his aim had been to tell 'the divine, but not frivolous, gossip of the men and women of Australia'.

An avid reader, Mr Rudd urged those at the launch to read the book, 'This isn't dead history, this is history with a pulse'.

Thomas Keneally's Australians: Origins to Eureka is available for purchase at our Online Bookshop.

Book Search

There are over 9 million items in the Library's growing collection, and we are always looking for material to add.

The Library is seeking your assistance in helping to continue building a national collection for future generations.

We have compiled a 'wish list' of notable items missing from our collection, and your donation or advice of the whereabouts of any of these items would be immensely appreciated.

The 'wish list' is available on our website

Enquiries: select@nla.gov.au

Computers for Beginners

The National Library, in association with CIT Solutions, is offering a hands-on short course for beginners on how to get the best from a computer.

Topics covered include basic Word and using the Internet.

This course is tailored specifically for National Library users and will be held over three consecutive Friday afternoons in October.

Friday 2, 9 and 16 October
$85 for 3 sessions. Places are limited
Bookings: 02 6207 4441 or online

Friends 2000th Member

In August 2009, the Friends of the National Library reached a special milestone when Bronwen Sissons of Canberra became the 2000th member.

The Friends provide a wide range benefits to their members, including a variety of engaging cultural events.

If you have a love of Australian books, history and culture, then you may be interested in joining the Friends of the National Library.

More information is available on our website

Pictured: Garry Kent, Chair of the Friends Committee, and Bronwen Sissons

Find us on Facebook

And follow us on Twitter

If you're on Facebook or Twitter, join the conversation with staff members and other fans of the Library.

The Library on Facebook
The Library on Twitter

eResource Focus

19th Century British Pamphlets

This collection of more than 20,000 pamphlets from seven UK institutions provides online access to the most significant British pamphlets from the 19th century.

These often rare publications provide an insight into the social and political landscape of 19th-century Britain.

Registered Library readers can view this resource via the eResources portal

You can register as a reader at the National Library website

Latest Publication Release

The Riddle of Father Hackett
By Brenda Niall

In 1922, at the height of Ireland's tragic civil war, Irish Jesuit William Hackett was transferred to Australia by his order. Assigned to a minor teaching post, this seemingly unremarkable newcomer concealed a secret past as an Irish revolutionary.

Based on archives in Ireland and Australia, the story of this remarkable priest is told by leading Australian biographer Brenda Niall.

RRP: $39.95

Available for purchase at our Online Bookshop

Treasure of the Month

Joseph Lycett (c. 1775-1828)
Fishing by torchlight, other Aborigines beside camp fires cooking fish  c. 1817

Joseph Lycett, after being transported to Australia for forgery, became one of the colony's most accomplished convict artists. His album of 50 watercolours is unusual for its depiction of Indigenous daily life.

This night fishing scene illustrates a common activity of the communities near present-day Newcastle, which relied on fish as a major food source.

In 2010, the National Library will begin construction on a state-of-the-art Treasures Gallery. If you would like to make a donation to the Treasures Gallery, please contact the Development Office on 02 6262 1141 or development@nla.gov.au.

What's On at the Library

For a full program of talks, films and reader education at the Library, visit What's On.

For information on our Education program, visit our Teachers and Students and Children and Families pages.

For more information about the National Library, visit Gateways and our new quarterly National Library Magazine.

For news about the National Library Bookshop, read INPRINT.