Visiting the Library around Christmas and New Year? Be sure to check our opening hours between 22 December 2025 and 1 January 2025 when planning your visit.  

If your visit takes place before or after this period, see our regular opening hours.  

Reading Rooms 

Collection deliveries will cease at 4:30pm on Wednesday 24 December 2025 and resume on Friday 2 January 2026.

Requests made on or after Wednesday 17 December 2025 will be kept on the reading room reserve shelves until close of business on Wednesday 7 January 2026.

Bookplate cafe

Catch up with friends and family over coffee, brunch or lunch at Bookplate. Sit inside to admire the Library’s famous Leonard French stained glass windows or sit outside on the terrace to enjoy scenic views of Lake Burley Griffin.  

Bookshop

Find the perfect gift or pick up some summer reading among our broad range of Australian stories and gifts.  

Go to the online shop

Galleries

Travel back in time in the Exhibition Gallery with 1975: Living in the Seventies.  

In the Treasures Gallery, reopening Saturday 13 December, explore stories of the Second World War in Remembering the War, and find out where our books are.

Library building

Library tours

Friendly and knowledgeable volunteers will be running our Library tours at 11am throughout the holiday period, excluding Thursday 25 December 2025. These tours are free, but bookings are essential. Please note availability over this period is subject to change, with no less than one week’s notice.

Learn more and book a tour

Paperplate cafe

Paperplate will be closed during the summer holiday period from Monday 22 December 2025 and will reopen on Monday 12 January 2026.  

See you soon!

We look forward to seeing you and hope you have a happy and safe holiday season.  

Plan your visit