Library and archival collections offer rich source material for the historical novelist. This workshop aims to provide an introduction to searching the National Library’s Trove – the online gateway to the extraordinary material held by Australian collecting institutions. With a focus on the incredible collection of digitised newspapers, this first half of this session will look at search strategies, tips and tricks for using Trove. The second half will focus on research techniques and strategies for searching library and archival catalogues.

Bonnie Wildie is an archivist, librarian and historian, with extensive experience as an educator in the information science and cultural heritage sector. She is passionate about communicating history and heritage to the broader community. She seeks new and innovative methods that might challenge traditional notions of historical research and information access.

If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?

Oh - it would have to be William Shakespeare. Imagine having a meal with someone whose works have shaped literature, language and storytelling as we know it, while also appealing to the masses and throwing in a dirty joke or two.  Incredible dinner guest! I also can't imagine what it would be like to hear him speak - would he move between poetry and prose, or simply ask to be passed the salt.