Thinking of visiting the Library around Christmas or New Year's Day? Plan your visit with our summer opening hours, from Monday 23 December 2024 to Wednesday 1 January 2025. 

View our regular opening hours if your visit will take place before or after this period. 

Reading rooms

Collection deliveries will cease at 4.30pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024.

Requests made on or after Tuesday 17 December 2024 will be kept on the reading room reserve shelves until close of business on Wednesday 8 January 2025.

Collection deliveries resume on Thursday 2 January 2025. 

Cafes

Enjoy coffee, brunch or lunch with friends and family at Bookplate. Sit outside to take in some of Canberra's best lake views or escape the heat inside, semi-surrounded by the Library’s famous Leonard French stained glass windows.

Paperplate cafe will be closed from Monday 23 December and will reopen on Monday 6 January 2025.

Bookshop

Do some last-minute holiday shopping, add to your summer reading list or simply browse a broad range of Australian stories and gifts. Be sure to check out the sale tables out the front with items marked down up to 50% from Thursday 5 December until Tuesday 24 December.

Galleries

Explore Hopes and Fears: Australian Migration Stories in the Exhibition gallery or head into the Treasures Gallery to see some highlights from the Library’s collection.

Library building

Due to major building works, the Friends Lounge is temporarily closed until mid-2025.

Discover your National Library tours

Friendly and knowledgeable volunteers will be running our Discover your National Library tour at 11 am throughout the holiday period. These tours are free, but booking are essential. Please note availability over this period is subject to change, with no less than one week’s notice.

We look forward to seeing you!

Before visiting the Library, make sure you plan your visit. If you’re visiting us sooner, check our regular opening hours.