Opening hours

All reading rooms in the Library are open Monday to Friday at the times detailed below. The Main, Petherick, Newspapers and Microforms Reading Rooms are also open on weekends and most public holidays. Other public areas of the Library including the National Library Gallery, Visitor Centre, Bookshop and bookplate restaurant are also open Monday to Friday, on weekends and public holidays.

The National Library operates closed book stacks which means readers are unable to browse the Library shelves to retrieve material. Instead, readers search the catalogue to find what they want and a back-up collection delivery service is available.

Main Reading Room

Monday to Thursday 9.00am - 9.00pm
Friday and Saturday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Sunday 1.30pm - 5.00pm
We recommend readers pre-order material for use as there is no collection delivery service on Sunday.

Petherick Reading Room

Monday to Thursday 9.00am - 9.00pm
Friday and Saturday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Sunday Open only to registered Petherick Readers.

Newspapers and Microforms Reading Room

Monday to Saturday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Sunday Closed

Items may be requested until 30 minutes prior to closing time. After hours access to some collection material is possible by prior arrangement.

Other reading rooms

Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Saturday to Sunday Closed
Public holidays Closed

After hours access to some collection material is possible by prior arrangement.

National Library Gallery

Daily 9.00am - 5.00 pm

Visitor Centre

Monday to Thursday 9.00am - 9.00pm
Friday to Sunday 9.00am - 5.00pm

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