There’s so much to discover inside the National Library’s collection.

Books, newspapers, ephemera, maps, manuscripts, music scores, oral histories, pictures, posters, even special items relevant to your family’s history.

And if you can’t make it to the Library, we can send you a copy to keep. 

Simply browse and fall into a world of wonder.   

If you’d like a copy of an item, check the copyright status, and if all clear we will email you a copy.   

To shop, just add the item to your shopping cart. Follow the prompts and pay online.  

We will only charge you once we have confirmed and we can send you a copy. Check our website for delivery times – as some requests will take a few days. 

Take a look - onsite and online. 

The Copies Direct service is a fast, easy and inexpensive way to get copies of material from the National Library of Australia's collections.

Find the item in the catalogue

Search the catalogue for items held by the Library.

Check the copyright status

Once you find the item you are looking for in the catalogue, check the ‘copyright status’ field in the catalogue record. If it says:

  • ‘Out of copyright’ then YES we can copy the whole item and send it to you by email.
  • ‘In copyright’ there will be limits on what we can send. Generally for items in copyright we can copy one chapter or 10% for research and study.
  • Ask a Librarian if the catalogue record says ‘Copyright undetermined’ or place the request and we'll let you know if we cannot supply it.
  • For more information visit our copyright pages.

Place your order

  • To place an order, click ‘Order a Copy’ in the catalogue record.
  • Fill in the online form, the cost will be automatically calculated and you can pay online.
  • You will not be charged if the material cannot be supplied.

Tips

  • Visit Copies Direct to learn about costs and delivery times.
  • Check our frequently asked questions about copyright.
  • For items that are in copyright we can generally copy one chapter or 10% for research and private use.
  • Look for ‘Access Conditions’ in the catalogue record for more information about whether we can provide copies.
  • If you want more material copied than is permitted by copyright then you may need to get written permission from the copyright owner. See our tips on finding copyright owners.
  • Another option is to request an item be delivered to your local library. Your local library will be able to tell you about this service, called interlibrary loan, including how much it costs.

More help

  • Please contact Copies Direct if you need help placing an order.
  • If you have an enquiry about copyright, please Ask a Librarian for help via email or phone.

The National Library of Australia acknowledges Australia’s First Nations Peoples – the First Australians – as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land and gives respect to the Elders – past and present – and through them to all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Cultural Notification

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website contains a range of material which may be considered culturally sensitive including the records of people who have passed away.

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