Thinking of visiting the Library around Christmas or New Year's Day? Plan your visit with our summer opening hours, from Monday 23 December 2024 to Wednesday 1 January 2025.
On this page:
Discover your National Library tours
Reading rooms
| 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 |
Collection deliveries will cease at 4.30pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024.
Requests made on or after Tuesday 17 December 2024 will be kept on the reading room reserve shelves until close of business on Wednesday 8 January 2025.
Collection deliveries resume on Thursday 2 January 2025.
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.
Cafe
Enjoy coffee, brunch or lunch with friends and family at Bookplate. Sit outside to take in some of Canberra's best lake views or escape the heat inside, semi-surrounded by the Library’s famous Leonard French stained glass windows.
| 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 will be closed from Monday 23 December and reopen on Monday 20 January 2025.
Bookshop
Do some last-minute holiday shopping, add to your summer reading list or simply browse a broad range of Australian stories and gifts. Be sure to check out the sale tables out the front with items marked down up to 50% from Thursday 5 December until Tuesday 24 December.
| 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 |
Galleries
Explore Hopes and Fears: Australian Migration Stories in the Exhibition gallery or head into the Treasures Gallery to see some highlights from the Library’s collection.
| 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 |
Library building
| 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 |
Due to major building works, the Friends Lounge is temporarily closed until mid-2025.
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. Please note availability over this period is subject to change, with no less than one week’s notice.
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.
Harold Cazneaux, Rainbow, Jean and Beryl Cazneaux sitting at a table outside a cafe, 1914?, nla.obj-144139251
