Using the Collection

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General

See also: Find Books | Find Journals | What We Collect

Finding What You Want

Our collections are listed in the catalogue and include links to electronic documents, pictures and finding aids for manuscripts.

Journal articles and chapters in books are not listed in the catalogue. You need to use an E-Resources to explore the content of journals or books, then look in the catalogue for the journal or book where the article appears.

Some other material is not listed in the catalogue. You may need to consult one of our guides to the collection or ask for help to find what you need.

Our online tutorial Teach Yourself Online will show you how to search the catalogue or the Internet and use databases for research.

Using our Reading Rooms

You will find reference works, newly acquired books and recent issues of journals on display in our reading rooms. The rest of our collections are housed in closed stacks.

• Registering as a reader
  To get material from the closed stacks you must be a registered National Library Reader. You can then request material for use in the Library's Reading Rooms using e-CallSlips.
• Requesting material
  Registered National Library readers can request items at any time, either in the Library or off-site via the Library's web site. You may also use our Telephone Information Service to reserve books ahead of a visit.
• Book Delivery Service
  We will deliver items you request from the collection within 30 minutes unless the material is not stored within the building - in which case most material will be delivered within 2 hours.
• Acceptable Use of Information and Communication Technology
  Readers must abide by the conditions in this code if accessing electronic resources at the National Library of Australia

Getting a Copy or Reproduction

The Library provides a range of copying services including photocopying, digital photography or scanning, microfilming and copying of sound recordings.

If you are in the Library you can use our Photocopying services. You must follow the copyright and other restrictions given on signs near the photocopiers.

You may obtain a photocopy of an article, chapter of a book, picture, map, manuscript, music, transcript or other material from the collection without needing to visit the Library by using Copies Direct.

Borrowing a Book from Us

We do not lend books directly to individuals but you may borrow books through the interlibrary lending system by asking at your local library.

Getting Permission to Publish

You will need the Library's permission if you are thinking of reproducing any of the Library's collection material, for example in a book, website or broadcast. There is generally no fee for this permission.