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.


Monday-Thursday


Friday

Saturday and
public holidays


Sunday


Main Reading Room


9.00am-5.00pm


9.00am-3.45pm


9.00am-3.45pm


No deliveries
*See note

Petherick Reading Room

9.00am-5.00pm

9.00am-3.45pm

9.00am-3.45pm

No deliveries
*See note

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.


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 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.

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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 …

Monday-Friday and public holidays

8.30am (overnight requests)
11.30 am
2.30pm

10.00am
1.00pm
4.00pm

Saturday*

 

As above
No deliveries

 

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:

  • 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 2005
  • Some Manuscripts Collection material. Most Manuscripts Collection material held offsite can be delivered in accord with the cut-off times above. Some material requires four weeks notice – these collections are clearly identified in the Library’s Catalogue.
  • Selected other foreign language material

Certain special material comprises mainly:

  • Rare Books and other formed collections
  • Sheet music
  • Ephemera
  • Oral History transcripts and audio on CDs/cassettes
  • Any other item identified in the Catalogue as 'collect from Petherick Reading Room'

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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.

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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