Find opening hours for the building, cafes, shop, reading rooms and more.

Bookplate cafe is open 7 days a week and Paperplate cafe is open on weekdays.

Current building works are temporarily impacting access to parts of our collection.

We are making vital improvements to our much-loved heritage building.

This tongue-in-cheek Bookplate cafe 'About' section was kindly written by Angus Trumble - former Director of the National Portrait Gallery of Australia, scholar, art curator, author and dear friend of the Bookplate team.

Bookplate offers a stunning event space with vibrant colours and elegant mid-century architecture, ideal for weddings, cocktail receptions, and corporate dinners. Tailored catering services include group lunches, teas, and more, with a focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients to make your event memorable.

Host your next event in one of the Library's venues.

Understanding these guidelines enables both parties to produce a successful event.

For the next 4 weeks, the Library is one of 20 locations hosting contemporary mixed media artworks as part of the Canberra Art Biennial.

The Library is located on Parkes Place in the central Canberra suburb of Parkes in the Parliamentary Triangle.

Facilities, staff support and additional privileges for readers who are undertaking advanced research.

A dedicated space for readers to view and research material from the Library's special collections.