Planning a visit to the Library around Christmas or New Year? Be sure to check our summer opening hours, from Saturday 23 December 2023 to Monday 1 January 2024 inclusive.
On this page:
Library Building and Friends Lounge
Discover your National Library tours
Reading Rooms
| Day | Open |
|---|---|
| Saturday 23 December 2023 | 10am to 5pm |
| Sunday 24 December 2023 |
1:30pm to 5pm |
| Monday 25 December 2023 - Monday 1 January 2024 | Closed |
Collection deliveries cease at 4:30pm on Friday 22 December 2023.
Collection deliveries resume on Tuesday 2 January 2024.
Some of our collections are temporarily unavailable due to major building activity. This means that some requests for deliveries of Library material to the Reading Rooms will not be fulfilled. Please be sure to check your requests before visiting and stay up to date with temporary changes to collection access.
Bookplate
At Bookplate, catch up with friends and family over coffee, brunch or lunch. You can escape the heat and sit indoors semi-surrounded by the Library’s iconic stained-glass windows or admire Lake Burley Griffin and enjoy the sunshine from the outdoor terrace.
| Day | Open |
|---|---|
| Saturday 23 - Sunday 24 December 2023 | 9am to 4pm |
| Monday 25 December 2023 | Closed |
| Tuesday 26 December 2023 | 9am to 4pm |
| Wednesday 27 - Friday 29 December 2023 | 8:30am to 4pm |
| Saturday 30 December 2023 - Monday 1 January 2024 | 9am to 4pm |
Bookshop
Whether you need to do some last-minute Christmas shopping or get prepared with some summer reading material, the Bookshop is full of diverse Australian stories and unique gifts.
| Day | Open |
|---|---|
| Saturday 23 - Sunday 24 December 2023 | 9am to 5pm |
| Monday 25 December 2023 | Closed |
| Tuesday 26 December 2023 - Monday 1 January 2024 | 9am to 4pm |
Galleries
In the Exhibition Gallery, Grit & Gold: Tales from a Sporting Nation takes you on a journey through Australia's rich sporting history. From local and grassroots events to some of Australia's biggest sporting moments and athletic heroes, this exhibition is a treat for sports experts and novices alike.
In the Treasures Gallery, see some of the Library’s most unique, unexpected and significant items. From Wednesday 6 December, the Treasures Gallery will also feature a collection-in-focus display exploring William Yang's photography of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras between 1981 and 2003.
| Day | Open |
|---|---|
| Saturday 23 - Sunday 24 December 2023 | 9am to 5pm |
| Monday 25 December 2023 | Closed |
| Tuesday 26 December 2023 - Monday 1 January 2024 | 9am to 5pm |
Library Building and Friends Lounge
Friends of the Library are welcome to read or relax in the Friends Lounge on Level 2.
| Day | Open |
|---|---|
| Saturday 23 - Sunday 24 December 2023 | 9am to 5pm |
| Monday 25 December 2023 | Closed |
| Tuesday 26 December 2023 | 9am to 5pm |
| Wednesday 27 - Thursday 28 December 2023 | 8am to 8pm |
| Friday 29 December 2023 | 8am to 5pm |
| Saturday 30 December 2023 - Monday 1 January 2024 | 9am to 5pm |
Discover your National Library tours
Friendly and knowledgeable volunteers will be running our Discover your National Library tour at 11am throughout the holiday period. These tours are free, but booking are essential.
| Day | Availability |
|---|---|
| Saturday 23 - Tuesday 26 December 2023 | Unavailable |
| Wednesday 27 - Sunday 31 December 2023 | Available |
| Monday 1 January 2024 | Unavailable |
We look forward to seeing you!
Before visiting the Library, make sure you plan your visit. If you’re visiting us sooner, check our regular opening hours.
Bruce Postle, People playing cricket and enjoying the beach and surf, with the Cape Byron Lighthouse in the background, Byron Bay, New South Wales, 2007, nla.obj-148396345
