Library
Library Collections
Books
The NAS Library holds a comprehensive collection of literature on the fine arts, including books, journals, exhibition catalogues, student and staff exegesis, and rare books.
The collection supports the delivery of undergraduate, postgraduate, open course and public programs.
Journals
The NAS Library subscribes to a range of Australian and international art journals and magazines. These are housed on the first floor of the library and are shelved in alphabetical order. Any journal that is less than 5 years old can be borrowed, except for the most recent issue which remains on display and for reference use.
Online
The NAS Library provides access to a range of online resources, databases, specialist websites and research guides. Databases contain journal articles, newspapers, reference material, eBooks and more. Databases and eBooks are available to current NAS BFA, MFA and DFA students and staff.
JSTOR is a full-text database of over 600 international journals and magazines including Art Bulletin, Art Journal, Burlington Magazine, Corinth, Journal of Design History, Leonardo, October, Oxford Art Journal and more.
ProQuest Art Design and Architecture is a collection of specialist contemporary art databases, with full-text, abstract and index references, with coverage from 1973 to now. It includes the specialist indexes ARTbibliographies Modern (covering modern and contemporary art), Design and Applied Arts Index (for all aspects of design and crafts) and the International Bibliography of Art (covering scholarship on Western art history). These include Art in America, The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, Art and Perception, Oxford Art Journal, and PAJ: A Journal of Performance and Art.
ProQuest eBook Central: The Arts covers topics from art, architecture, dance, design, music, performing arts, film/screen studies, and more. With access to content from renowned publishers and 130+ university presses.
Library Services
Research consultations
Research consultations are offered to students to assist in locating resources related to your specific research needs.
During the session you will be shown how to structure your searches and access relevant databases that will help you identify and locate the information you need. In the consultation you will learn about a wide range of online resources including library-subscribed databases (JSTOR and ProQuest), Google Scholar, Trove, State Library of NSW e-resources, as well as other reliable sites such as university, museum and galleries websites. Email [email protected] to set up an appointment, or book online HERE.
Please note:
- Appointments are available Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 5pm
– Bookings are to be made 2 business days in advance.
– For your research consultation to be effective it is helpful that you have a solid understanding of your topic before the consultation.
– The consultation takes up to an hour.
– You can request this service as often as needed throughout your program as your research needs develop.
– This is not a proof reading or editing service.
Academic Literacy
The National Art School has an Academic Literacy officer on hand to assist students in developing writing skills, including grammar and syntax, essay planning and structure, and referencing. One-on-one consultations are available for students on Tuesdays and Thursdays or by appointment. Please book online HERE or email Dr Molly Duggins at [email protected]
Please note that this is not a proof reading or editing service.
Library Facilities
Computer Room
Our dedicated computer room is equipped with Mac and PCs options and furnished with Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft 365.
No bookings required.
Study spaces
NAS Library has a number of quiet spaces to study, including individual study desks, lounges and sun/reading room.
No reservations required.
Printing
Fee based print and copy facilities available on the ground floor and computer room of the library. Colour, black and white, A4 and A3 print options are available.
Large format and premium print services are available at NAS Print Lab.
Refer to the NAS Technology Ecosystem Manual for more information about NAs printing services.
Research help
The NAS Library staff are here to help you with your research throughout your studies. You can ask questions in person any time during business hours, or contact us at [email protected].
The Library staff offer research support workshops throughout the semester. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram to stay up to date on upcoming workshops.
Referencing help
The National Art Schools’ preferred citation method is the Chicago Manual of Style, which uses a footnote and bibliography system. You can view the NAS Library Chicago Referencing Guide for a list of commonly cited source types. For more complex citation queries you can consult the Chicago Manual of Style Online .
Borrowing
Students
Enrolled students can borrow up to 15 items at one time. Two-week loan periods apply to most collection items.
Renewing items is possible in person or online through the Library Catalogue.
Staff
Staff can borrow up to 15 items at one time. Four-week loan periods apply to most collection items.
Renewing items is possible in person or online through the Library Catalogue.
Associate Members & Short Course students
Associate Members and Short Course students can borrow up to 5 items at one time. Two-week loan periods apply to most collection items.
Renewing items is possible in person, via email at [email protected] or over the phone: +61 2 9339 8620.
Fines
Avoiding fines
Keep track of all loans and due dates when borrowing items and return items on time.
- Renew any loans before they are overdue in person or online through the Library Catalogue.
- Take note of courtesy notices sent via email.
- Overdue items will incur fees and prevent you from borrowing, renewing and requesting items.
Item fees
- Standard loans: 50c per day overdue
- Special reserve & 2 day loans: $5 per day overdue (fee accrues at 1pm on the due date).
- Lost, fail to return or damaged items: $100 per item + $20 processing fee (NAS library reserves the right to charge for the actual cost of replacement on all lost, fail to return and damaged items).
Membership
All NAS students and staff are eligible for membership at the NAS Library.
Short course students have free borrowing access to the library for the duration of their course. Please visit the library with evidence of enrolment to arrange membership.
Members of the public can join NAS Library as Associate Members. Associate membership is $80 AUD for a 12 month period. Please visit the library to arrange membership. NAS Library accepts payment via card only.
Library Stairwell Gallery
The Library Stairwell Gallery is a dedicated space in the Library for student exhibitions. BFA 2, BFA 3 and MFA students are eligible to apply to have a show in the Gallery. Follow NAS Library on Facebook or Instagram for updates on when applications are open. You can view previous exhibitions on the Library Stairwell Gallery blog.
About
The NAS Library is a specialist fine arts library that supports the curriculum of the National Art School. The collection includes books, journals, magazines, online databases, videos and DVDs. The collection is located across both levels of the library and is arranged according to Dewey Classification.
The collection is intended primarily to support the delivery of the Bachelor of Fine Art and Post Graduate programs. It also supports HSC level, public short courses, the research needs of academic staff and the general public.
Opening Hours
Semester time:
– Monday – Thursday: 9:00am – 6:00pm
– Friday: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Holiday time:
– Monday – Friday: 10:00am – 4:00pm
– Closed weekends and public holidays
Contact
[email protected]
+61 2 9339 8620
CONTACT
+61 2 9339 8620
Opening hours:
Semester time:
Monday – Thursday: 9:00am – 6:00pm
Friday: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Holiday time:
Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Closed weekends and public holidays
Art Club is our high school student program for 15-17 year olds, designed to enhance and extend students’ technical, conceptual, and intellectual skills, through intensive practical study in the disciplines offered at NAS as well as engaging in an experience of our studios and campus, under the expert direction of experienced artists.
Set your child on a creative path with Art Club.
Learn more at the link in bio.
Apr 15
Thank you to everyone who attended the opening night of the 24th Dobell Drawing Prize and congratulations again to the prize winner NAS alumna Rosemary Lee.
The 24th Dobell Drawing Prize is now open until Saturday 21 June 2025
11am – 5pm Monday to Saturday
NAS Gallery
Free admission, all welcome
Learn more about the exhibition at the link in bio.
Apr 11
We are delighted to announce NAS alumna Rosemary Lee as the winner of the 24th Dobell Drawing Prize, Australia’s leading prize for drawing, worth $30,000.
Selected from 56 nationwide finalists, and 965 entries, Rosemary’s work will become part of the National Art School’s significant collection, built over the past 120 years. Rosemary, in her winning work 24-1 (2024), observes tonal and compositional profundity in everyday life.
The judging panel comprising acclaimed First Nations artist Vernon Ah Kee, Paula Latos-Valier AM, Trustee and Art Director of the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation, and Dr Yolunda Hickman, Head of Postgraduate Studies, National Art School, commented of Rosemary’s work: “The decision to award the 24th Dobell Drawing Prize to Rosemary Lee for the work ‘24-1’ was unanimous. We were most impressed by the level of visual intensity the artist has achieved in this work both through its vibrant colour and in the extraordinary detail of the composition. The artwork’s exploration of the urban landscape and gentrification of the Sydney suburbs of Ashfield and Summer Hill, has produced an image capturing a broader sense of transience and the omnipresence of construction sites in our cities today. It questions the cultural and historical value of place, through the lens of the artist’s personal connection.”
See Lee’s work alongside the work of the other finalists in the 24th Dobell Drawing Prize, 11 April – 21 June 2025, NAS Gallery
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Left to right: NAS Director and CEO, Dr Kristen Sharp with artist Rosemary Lee, featuring winning artwork 24–1, 2024, pencil on paper, image courtesy the artist and National Art School Gallery © the artist, photograph: Peter Morgan
Apr 10
Introducing the National Art School Short Courses Program from July–December 2025
Whether you’re a beginner, rediscovering a past passion, refining your skills, or considering our Fine Arts degree, the short courses offer a stimulating and rewarding experience for all levels.
Our 2025 program begins in July with Winter School, followed by Term Three, Spring Weekend Workshops in September, and Term Four in October.
Learn more and enrol at the link in bio.
Apr 10
Making Sound is a performance event featuring four artists who make devices that make sound, including Gary Warner, Pia van Gelder, Ben Denham and Sean O’Connell, presented following Facture: Drawing Symposium 2025, Saturday 12 April 5-6pm.
Gary Warner creates an improvised soundfield with his ‘aleatoric ensemble’ autonomous sound machines, a collection of modified turntables that spin ad-hoc bric-a-brac assemblages.
Pia van Gelder (pictured) amplifies an electronic circuit as it is built in real-time. Under the moniker of “PvG sans PCB,” in these performances, van Gelder works on a breadboard with electronic components and additional found objects to demonstrate the electronic variabilities produced in the material world.
Ben Denham and Sean O’Connell perform together with handmade synthesizer systems that sense and sonify barometric pressure and the flow of electrons through matter.
Purchase your tickets to the symposium at the link in bio.
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Pia van Gelder, `sans PCB`, 2021, performance, Collings Creative, image courtesy and © the artist
Apr 6
Passionate about collections and the arts? Join us as a Digitisation Volunteer!
The National Art School Archive and Collection team is looking for enthusiastic Digitisation Volunteers to help bring our art collection to life! Your work will play a key role in making art and history more accessible—by photographing and recording our collections, enhancing our museum database, and digitising our extensive archive of photographs. Through your efforts, every stored object and artwork in our collection will have a high-quality, searchable digital record for generations to come.
Apply at the link in bio.
Apr 2
