Using the Special Collections Reading Room

The Library’s special collections include rare books and journals, artworks, photographs, maps, sheet music, oral history recordings, manuscript papers, ephemera and more.

This material can be accessed in the Special Collections Reading Room on Lower Ground 1 of the Library building.

This guide provides information on how you can request, access and use these collections.

To protect the unique collection materials used in the room please note that bags, food and drink are not permitted in the Special Collections Reading Room. These and other large objects such as umbrellas can be stored in our free self-service lockers on Lower Ground 1.

A man looking at a large open book on a desk

Opening hours and delivery times

The Special Collections Reading Room is open Monday to Thursday 10am-8pm, Friday to Saturday 10am-5pm and is closed on Sundays and public holidays. See our opening hours for full details.

Collection material is delivered to the Special Collections Reading Room three times each weekday based on a cut off time for submitting a request. See our collection delivery times for further details.

Due to major building activity at the Library, for the next 12 months we will be operating with reduced space, which may impact deliveries of large amounts of material and our capacity to accommodate researchers.

Room facilities

Facilities within the Special Collections Reading Room includes:

free wifi and computers with internet and Microsoft Office suite
copying facilities for use with selected collection materials
equipment to listen to Oral History and Folklore recordings
a reference book collection curated to support the use of our unique collections
indexes, finding aids and guides to assist with requesting and using collections

The Petherick Reading Room is co-located within the Special Collections Reading Room and provides a dedicated space for readers undertaking intensive research.

In this guide

A National Library of Australia archival cart with labeled special collections boxes, placed in a reading room beside wooden tables and yellow seating.

Requesting special collection items

You will need to create a National Library account to request special collections materials.

Man in a grey and black checkered shirt and headphones sitting at a desk, using a computer. To his left are two open books

Access conditions

Permissions may be required before using and copying some items such as Manuscripts collections and Oral History recordings.

A woman turning the page in a book while sitting at a desk

Delivery of special collection items

Once requested, most special collections items are delivered to the Special Collections Reading Room three times each weekday at 10.30am, 1.30pm and 4pm.

A woman wearing white gloves examining an item with a magnifying glass

Collection handling

The special collections contain many rare, fragile and unique items which can require certain handling conditions.

Shelf and table with dozens of old, leather-bound books, some with gold designs or writing on the spines

Baskerville Collection in the Rare Books Stacks

Copying and publishing

Copying for the purposes of research and study is generally permitted, however if you wish to publish images or quote from collection material in publication you may be required to consult the Library and gain permission from a copyright holder.

Page published: 26 Aug 2024

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Using the Special Collections Reading Room