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

Regular opening hours

  • 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.  

Christmas/New Year opening hours

Day Open
Monday 23 to Tuesday 24 December 2024  8am to 8pm
Wednesday 25 December 2024  Closed
Thursday 26 December 2024  9am to 5pm
Friday 27 December 2024  8am to 5pm
Saturday 28 to Sunday 29 December 2024  9am to 5pm
Monday 30 to Tuesday 31 December 2024  8am to 8pm
Wednesday 1 January 2025  9am to 5pm

Reading rooms

Regular opening hours

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

Christmas/New Year opening hours

Day Open
Monday 23 December 2024  10am to 8pm
Tuesday 24 December 2024  10am to 5pm 
Wednesday 25 December 2024 to Wednesday 1 January 2025  Closed

Bookplate cafe

Regular opening hours

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

Christmas/New Year opening hours

Day Open
Monday 23 to Tuesday 24 December 2024  8:30am to 4pm
Wednesday 25 December 2024  Closed
Thursday 26 December 2024  9am to 4pm
Friday 27 December 2024  8:30am to 4pm
Saturday 28 to Sunday 29 December 2024  9am to 4pm
Monday 30 to Tuesday 31 December 2024  8:30am to 4pm
Wednesday 1 January 2025  9am to 4pm

Paperplate cafe

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

Paperplate cafe will be closed from Monday 23 December and reopen on Monday 20 January 2025.

BOOKPLATE & PAPERPLATE CAFES

Bookshop

Regular opening hours

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

BOOKSHOP

Christmas/New Year opening hours

Day Open
Monday 23 to Tuesday 24 December 2024  9am to 5pm
Wednesday 25 December 2024  Closed
Thursday 26 December 2024 to Wednesday 1 January 2025  9am to 5pm

Treasures and Exhibition galleries

Regular hours

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

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

Christmas/New Year opening hours

Open Closed
Monday 23 to Tuesday 24 December 2024  9am to 5pm
Wednesday 25 December 2024  Closed
Thursday 26 December 2024 to Wednesday 1 January 2025  9am to 5pm

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