Ask a librarian
Chat with a librarian
Chat live and ask your question - we're online Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 7.00pm AEST.
This real-time virtual reference service is staffed by librarians from Australia and New Zealand - your chat session will not necessarily be with National Library staff.
Make a reference enquiry
Enquiries may be sent online or by post. We will make every effort to respond to your question within one week. However, complex enquiries may take longer.
- Make an enquiry - lodge a reference enquiry
- Check an existing enquiry - check the progress of an enquiry you have already lodged
- Make a comment or suggestion about this service
Phone us
+61 (02) 6262 1266
Call the National Library reference desk Monday to Saturday, 9.00am to 5.00pm AEST. The Library's
Freecall™ Telephone Typewriter (TTY) service is available through 1800 026 372.
We can ...
- Respond to enquiries on a broad range of topics.
- Provide specialist advice and information about using the Library's collection.
- Support you in your research efforts and with the use of the Library resources.
- Offer alternative research avenues and sources of information.
We can't ...
- Conduct extensive research for clients, including family history - read our starter's guide to family history research.
- Provide advice on personal, medical, financial or legal matters.
- Provide loans or copies of material which can be requested on interlibrary loan or through the Copies Direct service.
- Accept requests for collection material to be delivered to the reading rooms.
- Respond to 'urgent' requests.
- Research or provide answers to school or university assignments, quizzes or competitions.