Some of our collections are temporarily unavailable. This means that some requests for deliveries of Library material to the Reading Rooms will not be fulfilled. Stay up to date with temporary changes to collection access or contact our Ask a Librarian service.

Learn more about major building activity.

National Library of Australia building and Friends Lounge

  • Monday to Thursday: 8am to 8pm
  • Friday: 8am to 5pm
  • Saturday and Sunday: 9am to 5pm
  • Public holidays: 9am to 5pm
  • Good Friday and Christmas Day: Closed

Due to major building works, the Friends Lounge will be temporarily closed from 5pm 31 August 2024. It will remain closed for 12 months.  

Reading rooms

Collection deliveries to reading rooms

Note: Collection requests are not delivered during evenings or on weekends. Check collection delivery times to make the most of your visit.

Main Reading Room

  • Monday to Thursday: 10am to 8pm
  • Friday and Saturday: 10am to 5pm
  • Sunday: 1:30pm to 5pm
  • Public holidays: Closed

MAIN READING ROOM

Special Collections Reading Room and Petherick Reading Room

  • Monday to Thursday: 10am to 8pm
  • Friday and Saturday: 10am to 5pm
  • Sunday: Closed
  • Public holidays: Closed

The Special Collection Reading Room and Petherick Reading Room have temporarily relocated to Lower Ground 1

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS READING ROOM

PETHERICK READING ROOM

Bookplate cafe

  • Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 4pm
  • Saturday and Sunday: 9am to 4pm
  • Public holidays: 9am to 4pm
  • Good Friday and Christmas Day: Closed

Paperplate cafe

  • Monday to Friday: 9am to 3pm 
  • Saturday and Sunday: Closed
  • Public holidays: Closed

BOOKPLATE & PAPERPLATE CAFES

Bookshop

  • Monday to Sunday: 9am to 5pm
  • Public holidays: 9am to 5pm
  • Good Friday and Christmas Day: Closed

BOOKSHOP

Galleries

Treasures Gallery

  • Monday to Sunday: 9am to 5pm
  • Public holidays: 9am to 5pm
  • Good Friday and Christmas Day: Closed

TREASURES GALLERY

Exhibition Gallery

  • Monday to Sunday: 9am to 5pm
  • Public holidays: 9am to 5pm
  • Good Friday and Christmas Day: Closed

Public holidays 2024

Public holidays as observed in the Australian Capital Territory.

When a public holiday falls on a weekend a subsequent or additional date may be observed.

Public Holiday Dates to be observed
New Year's Day Monday 1 January 2024
Australia Day Friday 26 January 2024
Canberra Day Monday 11 March 2024
Good Friday Friday 29 March 2024
Easter Saturday Saturday 30 March 2024
Easter Sunday Sunday 31 March 2024
Easter Monday Monday 1 April 2024
ANZAC Day Thursday 25 April 2024
Reconciliation Day Monday 27 May 2024
King's Birthday Monday 10 June 2024
Labour Day Monday 7 October 2024
Christmas Day Wednesday 25 December 2024
Boxing Day Thursday 26 December 2024