Collection delivery service

Requests for collection material should be submitted within the times indicated below for same day delivery. Requests submitted after the latest time will be delivered to reading rooms on the next scheduled delivery day.

Material kept onsite

The Library’s most heavily used collections are stored onsite. Items from these collections are generally delivered to the reading rooms within 45 minutes.


Monday-Thursday


Friday

Saturday and
public holidays


Sunday


Main & Petherick Reading Rooms


9.00am-5.00pm


9.00am-3.45pm


9.00am-3.45pm


No deliveries
*See Note


Newspapers and Microforms Reading Room


9.00am-4.30pm


9.00am-4.30pm


9.00am-4.30pm


Reading room closed
*See Note


Manuscripts, Pictures, Maps and Asian Collections Reading Rooms


9.00am–4.30pm


9.00am-4.30pm


Reading rooms closed
*See Note


Reading rooms closed
*See Note

*Note: If prior arrangements are made with staff in relevant reading rooms, special collection material may be made available in the Main or Petherick Reading Rooms on weekday evenings and Saturdays. Asian, newspapers and microform collection material may also be made available on Sundays.

To avoid disappointment, requests for material to be used at weekends need to be placed no later than 4.00pm on Fridays.

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Material kept offsite

This material is delivered at set intervals throughout the working day and is kept on the Reserve shelves in the Main, Petherick or Newspapers and Microforms Reading Rooms.

Cut-off times for requests

For delivery by …

Monday-Thursday

8.30am
10.30am
1.30pm
3.30pm

10.00am
12.00pm
3.00pm
5.00pm

Friday and public holidays

8.30am
10.30am
1.30pm

10.00am
12.00pm
3.00pm

Saturday and Sunday*

No deliveries

No deliveries

* Note: Readers wishing to use material from offsite collections on weekends can request in advance and reserve the item/s. Requests submitted by 1.30pm on Fridays will be available for use the following morning.

Collection material kept offsite comprises mainly:

  • Printed Australian newspapers published before 1 January 2001
    (microfilm holdings are stored onsite)
  • Printed overseas newspapers published before 1 January 2006
    (microfilm holdings are stored onsite)
  • Overseas journals (magazines and serials) published before 1 January 1990
  • Some Manuscripts Collection material (four weeks notice is required for delivery - these collections are clearly identified in the Library's Catalogue).
  • Selected other foreign language material.

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Requesting material

Registered National Library readers can request most collection material through the Library's catalogue at www.nla.gov.au/catalogue.

Collection material can be requested for use that day or in advance of a visit. Up to 5 items may be reserved for 5 days by selecting ‘Reserve’ when submitting the request from our catalogue. The progress of requests can be monitored by selecting 'My Requests’ from within the catalogue. Readers may have a total of 15 items in concurrent use or on request.

The Library's catalogue indicates which collection material can be requested electronically and to which reading room it will be delivered. Manuscripts, Pictures and Maps Collection material cannot be requested electronically, but readers can submit a paper request onsite. This material may be pre-requested remotely by contacting the relevant reading room.

When your request is delivered the collection material is available for use only in that reading room unless prior arrangements have been made. Collection material cannot be taken out of the Library.

If you can't visit the Library

Selected material from the National Library's collection may be made available on interlibrary loan upon request by another Library. Contact your local library for details.

Copies DirectThe Copies Direct Service also provides a fast, easy and inexpensive way to obtain copies of material in the National Library’s collection. It may not be possible to copy all material due to preservation, copyright or other restrictions.

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