We operate a collection delivery service because most of our collections are held in closed book stacks not open for public browsing. You need to order in advance via the catalogue.
Delivery schedules:
For weekend use of material kept offsite, submit your request by 8:00am Fridays.
Temporary delivery time changes:
- Collection material is being quarantined in accordance with national recommendations and as a consequence it may take up to five (5) days for some returned items to be processed.
- Due to a collection move scheduled from March 2020 onwards some books will be temporarily unavailable. Log into the catalogue and check the progress of your requests as some requests may be delayed or not delivered.
Delivered from onsite storage
This material is kept onsite at the National Library of Australia. Request your material within the times below. Delivery is usually within 45 minutes.
Monday to Thursday | Friday | Saturday & Sunday | |
Main Reading Room | 10am - 5pm | 10am - 3:45pm | No deliveries |
Main Reading Room - Newspapers and Family History | 10am - 5pm | 10am - 3:45pm | No deliveries |
Special collections delivered from onsite
Our Special collections comprise manuscripts, pictures, maps, oral histories, rare books, sheet music, ephemera and select Asian language collections and are clearly identified in the Library’s catalogue. Special collections are delivered to the Special Collections Reading Room three times a day as below.
Cut-off times for requests | For delivery by | |
Monday to Friday | 8:30am (overnight requests) 11:30am 2pm | 10:30am 1:30pm 4pm |
Saturday | No deliveries | No deliveries |
Sunday | Closed | Closed |
Some manuscript collections require four weeks’ notice – these collections are clearly identified in the Library's Catalogue.
Delivered from offsite storage
This material is kept at storage facilities in Canberra and is delivered to the National Library of Australia. Material kept offsite is delivered once a day.
Cut-off times for requests | For delivery by | |
Monday to Friday | 8:00am (overnight requests) | 4pm |
Saturday & Sunday | No deliveries | No deliveries |
Collection material kept offsite is clearly identified in the catalogue and comprises mainly:
- Printed newspapers published before 1 January 2011 (microfilm holdings are stored onsite);
- Overseas journals (magazines and serials) published before 1 January 2005;
- Some manuscripts collection material;
- Some overseas published material.