Visitor experience redefined: what's available during building works and what awaits

Step inside and immerse yourself in Australia’s history and treasures! Our iconic building is open to the public, offering a range of activities to enhance your experience.

• Encounter rare books, manuscripts and artefacts from history in the exhibition galleries
• Access our reading rooms for study, research or a well-deserved break 
• Uncover the hidden stories in our collection on a free guided tour of the building, departing 11am daily from the foyer
• Catch up with your friends and family at Bookplate cafe in the foyer
• Browse a selection of Australian books and gifts to buy and take home at our bookstore
• Enjoy a coffee or light meal at Paperplate cafe located on the Lower Ground Floor

Progress updates

Temporary changes to collection access

Some collection storage areas will be temporarily closed, limiting access to some collection material. Different collection storage areas will be impacted at different times, but Library visitors can continue to request collection deliveries to the Reading Rooms as usual.

To find out what collections are impacted and when, and to help you plan your requests, please visit our temporary changes to collection access page.

Find out more about the temporary changes to collection access

Windows

We are continuing to restore the heritage windows around the Library. This project will rejuvenate the Library’s appearance and improve thermal performance, with insulation added behind the bronze window panels. Levels 1 to 4 were completed in May 2025. Over the coming months you will notice ground floor windows and doors hoarded up as they too are restored and fitted with new glazing.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning

As part of our ongoing stewardship and care for the Library’s collections, the Library is upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and associated electrical and fire systems. We have refurbished and upgraded these systems servicing more than half the Library’s floor space.

Level 3 Building Works and Installation of Storage Equipment

As part of the Library’s HVAC upgrade, a portion of the Asian collection was temporarily relocated offsite while the project was completed. Prior to the collection’s return, the Library has taken the opportunity to undertake minor building works in the stack area, including repainting and installing more energy-efficient lighting. The project also includes the installation of new motorised storage equipment, replacing the ageing and inefficient shelving previously in place. We anticipate that this project will be completed in January 2027.

Safety and compliance program

Ensuring every visitor has an enjoyable and safe experience is our top priority.

We are currently undertaking remedial work on our external fire stairs at several points on the Library outdoor podium, improving safety and accessibility. Alternate evacuation plans are available in affected areas to advise visitors of emergency exit pathways.

All areas on Level 1 of the Library, including the Special Collections Reading Room and temporary Friends Lounge, will be closed on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August. We will be undertaking critical maintenance work at this time, with no lighting or power available in the affected areas. Lighting in the Library Foyer and Main Reading Room will be affected by this work, but temporary lighting will be in place to allow these spaces to remain open. Lighting will be restored and Level 1 will reopen to the public on Monday 31 August.

Completed projects

Over the last few years, we’ve: 

• Modernised and expanded our digitisation and photography workspaces to meet the growing demand for digital content.
• Installed new gleaming copper sheeting on the roof.
• Made significant upgrades to the Library’s lighting to LED, although this project is ongoing.
• Installed a new electrical mains switchboard for the Library’s Parkes building.
• Installed 3 new Chillers which supports the Library’s base building services for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning.
• Upgraded a large portion of the Library’s heating, ventilation and air-conditioning services at the Parkes building with several plantrooms fully or partially upgraded.
• Opened new front entrance doors and windows, supporting improved access into the building.
• Built an extension at the northern end of the Library-owned Repository in Hume, ACT, addressing our most critical storage requirement for 18 linear kilometres of storage.
• Improved safety and accessibility onsite, including completing updates to one of our internal fire stairs and two publicly accessible bathrooms. 

These projects have been funded by the Australian Government.