Collection delivery service
Due to major building activity, some of our collections are temporarily unavailable. This means that some requests for deliveries of Library material to the Reading Rooms will not be fulfilled. Please check the catalogue carefully to find out if your selection is impacted.
Most of our collections are held in closed book stacks and aren't available for public browsing. To view them, you'll need to request items through the catalogue. We process all requests as soon as possible during business hours, Monday to Friday, before we deliver them to our reading rooms within set times for your use. See our delivery times below.
Accessing material
To use collection material:
- Join the Library or if you are already a member Login
- Request items from the Catalogue
- Collect your requested items to use in our reading rooms
- Use items onsite within 7 days from the date you requested them
- Up to 15 items can be held on reserve at a time
- Items with special storage conditions are held for 1 day only
Copying material
You're welcome to use personal digital devices to capture copies of collection material for research purposes.
Before copying:
- Check permissions – Some material is restricted or may require approval. You may need to get permission from the rights holder. Library staff can advise you on copying restrictions and the process of seeking permission.
- Ask before using equipment – Seek approval from Library staff before using a tripod or stand to photograph special collections material.
If you plan to publish material, you must confirm that you have the appropriate rights. Materials may be subject to copyright or publication restrictions. For further information, refer to:
- Copyright in Library collections
- How to tell the Library you intend to publish a copy of a collection item
- Australian Copyright Act 1968
Please make sure you understand your responsibilities. You are responsible for any copyright infringement.
Some items may include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural material. In these cases, you may need to seek permission or cultural clearances from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, families, individuals or organisations before accessing or reproducing the material.
Should cultural clearances be required, the Library can support you in understanding the process and your obligations. For more information, refer to Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property.
Delivery times
Collection delivery times vary. Submit your requests and check delivery times before visiting. If you are visiting us from interstate or overseas, please place your requests at least two days in advance of your visit, or contact our Ask A Librarian service for advice on how to proceed.
- Requests submitted after the last listed delivery time will be delivered the next business day.
- There are no deliveries during the evening or on weekends.
- You will receive email notification when your requests are ready in our reading rooms.
Track the status of your requests under 'Requests' in the Library catalogue.
Note: Some material from the Pictures and Maps collections can’t be requested through the catalogue. To discuss and arrange access for these items, prior to your visit contact Ask a Librarian.
Delivery schedules
This material is held onsite at the National Library of Australia. You can request it using the Catalogue.
Standard delivery time
Main Reading Room
(including Newspapers and Family History Zone)
| Day | Request time |
|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 10:00 am - 4:30 pm Delivery within 60 minutes |
| Saturday | No deliveries. Request material by 4:30 pm Friday |
| Sunday | No deliveries. Request material by 4:30 pm Friday |
| Public holidays | No deliveries. Closed. |
- Requests made after 4:30 pm weekdays will be delivered for the next weekday.
- Requests made after 4:30 pm Friday will be delivered the following Monday.
Special collections deliveries from onsite storage
Our special collections include manuscripts, pictures, maps, oral histories, rare books, sheet music, ephemera and select Asian-language collections, and are clearly identified in the Library's catalogue. Special collections are delivered 3 times a day to the Special Collections Reading Room.
Some manuscript collections require upto 4 weeks' notice for viewing. These collections are clearly identified in the catalogue.
| Day | Cut-off times for requests | For delivery by |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 8:00 am (overnight requests) | 10:30 am |
| 11:30 am | 1:30 pm | |
| 2:00 pm | 4:00 pm | |
| Saturday | No deliveries. Request material by 2:00 pm Friday | Saturday |
| Sunday | Closed | Closed |
| Public holidays | Closed | Closed |
Some collection material is kept in storage facilities in Canberra and delivered to the National Library once a day.
Collection material kept offsite is clearly identified in the catalogue, items include:
- printed newspapers published before 1 January 2011 (microfilm holdings are stored on site)
- overseas journals (magazines and serials) published before 1 January 2005
- some manuscripts collection material
- some overseas published material.
Check which reading room your offsite collection material will be delivered to, as the Special Collections Reading Room is not open on a Sunday, and so material delivered there will not be accessible if you visit on that day.
| Day | Cut-off times for requests | For delivery by |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 8:00 am | 4:00 pm same day |
| Saturday | No deliveries. Request material by 8:00 am on Friday | Saturday |
| Sunday | No deliveries. Request material by 8:00 am on Friday | Sunday |
| Public holidays | Closed | Closed |
Some manuscript collections are not fully arranged and described and so may need time to make ready before they can be used. These collections are sometimes described as 'unprocessed instalment' on the catalogue record.
For these collections please contact us 4 weeks before your visit to discuss your request and allow time for material to be prepared for use.
Some items are held in special storage areas and are only delivered once a day and only available to view on weekdays 10:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Request cut off time is 8:30 am for a delivery at 10:30 am that day. These items must be returned by 4:00 pm on that same day and so do not have the usual 7 day reserve period. If you wish to use the item again you will need to request it again before 8:30 am on the day of your next visit.
Contact us for advice on using these items.
Alternative access
If you’re unable to visit the National Library in person:
- Ask your local library about interlibrary loan options for selected material.
- Use our Copies Direct service to order copies of collection items.
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