Due to building works, some of our collections are temporarily unavailable. Some requests for deliveries of Library material to the Reading Rooms will not be fulfilled. Learn more
Regular opening hours
The National Library of Australia building, including the Friends Lounge, opens at 8.30am on weekdays and 9am on weekends. The building closes at 8pm Monday to Thursday and at 5pm on Fridays, weekends and public holidays. The opening hours of Bookplate, the bookshop, the exhibition galleries and the reading rooms vary and are listed below.
Please note that there are no collection deliveries during evenings or on weekends and that delivery times vary throughout the week. Check delivery times before you visit.
Reading rooms
Day | Opening hours |
---|---|
Monday to Thursday | 10am to 8pm |
Friday and Saturday* | 10am to 5pm |
Sunday* | 1.30pm to 5pm Special Collections and Petherick reading rooms are closed on Sundays |
Public holidays | Closed |
*Collection requests are not delivered on weekends. Check collection delivery times to make the most of your visit.
Treasures Gallery and Exhibition Gallery
Day | Opening hours |
---|---|
Daily | 9am to 5pm |
Good Friday | Closed |
Christmas Day | Closed |
Bookshop
Day | Opening hours |
---|---|
Daily | 9am to 5pm |
Good Friday | Closed |
Christmas Day | Closed |
Cafes
Bookplate
Day | Opening hours |
---|---|
Monday to Friday | 8:30am to 3pm |
Weekends | 9am to 4pm |
Public holidays | 9am to 3pm |
Paperplate
Day | Opening hours |
---|---|
Monday to Friday | Closed |
Weekends and public holidays | Closed |
Public holidays
The Library is closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day. Opening hours for all other public holidays are:
Location | Opening hours |
---|---|
Reading rooms | Closed |
Treasures Gallery and Exhibitions Gallery | 9am to 5pm |
Bookshop | 9am to 5pm |
Bookplate cafe | 9am to 2pm |
Paperplate cafe | Closed |
Public holidays 2022
Note: 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 | Saturday 1 January 2022 and Monday 3 January 2022 |
Australia Day | Wednesday 26 January 2022 |
Canberra Day | Monday 14 March 2022 |
Good Friday | Friday 15 April 2022 |
Easter Saturday | Saturday 16 April 2022 |
Easter Sunday | Sunday 17 April 2022 |
Easter Monday | Monday 18 April 2022 |
ANZAC Day | Monday 25 April 2022 |
Reconciliation Day | Monday 30 May 2022 |
Queen’s Birthday | Monday 13 June 2022 |
Labour Day | Monday 3 October 2022 |
Christmas Day | Sunday 25 December 2022 and Tuesday 27 December 2022 |
Boxing Day | Monday 26 December 2022 |