Collection delivery service
We operate closed book stacks and this means readers can't browse the Library shelves to retrieve material. Instead, readers use the catalogue to find and order what they need from our collections. That material is then delivered to the relevant reading room as indicated in the Catalogue.
Requests for collection material should be submitted within the times indicated below for same day delivery. Requests submitted after the latest listed time will be delivered to reading rooms on the next delivery day.
Material kept onsite
Our most heavily used collection items are stored onsite and they are generally delivered to reading rooms within 45 minutes, provided you have placed your request within the time frames given below.
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Saturday and |
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Petherick Reading Room |
9.00am-5.00pm |
9.00am-3.45pm |
9.00am-3.45pm |
No deliveries |
Certain materials (sheet music, oral histories, rare books, special formed collections, ephemera) require staff supervision and are only available through the Petherick Reading Room. These materials are delivered at set times. |
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*Note: If prior arrangements are made with staff in relevant reading rooms, special collections material (e.g. Some Asian collections, manuscripts, maps and pictures) may be made available in the Petherick Reading Rooms on Monday to Thursday evenings and Saturdays. General Asian Collections, Newspapers and Microforms Collections may also be made available in the Main Reading Room on Sundays.
Please note that requests for material to be used at the weekends need to be placed no later than 4.00pm on Fridays.
Material kept offsite and certain special materials
We deliver at set intervals throughout the working day as shown below. The Catalogue indicates from which reading room readers can collect their requests.
Cut-off times for requests |
For delivery by … |
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Monday-Friday and public holidays |
8.30am (overnight requests) |
10.00am |
Saturday* |
As above |
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Sunday* |
No deliveries |
* Note: Readers wishing to use material from offsite collections on weekends can request items in advance. Submit your request by 2.30pm on Fridays and your material will be available for use on Saturday morning at 9.00am.
There are no Oral History Collection deliveries on weekends or public holidays. Requests placed by 4.00pm Mondays to Fridays will be available for use in the Petherick Reading Room the following morning.
Collection material kept offsite comprises mainly:
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Certain special material comprises mainly:
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Requesting material
Registered National Library readers can request most collection material through the Library's 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 some 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.
The 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.
