Visiting Rules
Arriving and Leaving
When you arrive, please go to the coat check area first. For security reasons, everyone who visits the library must check their coats and bags. There are lockers and a card phone in the coat check area.
The staff at the Main Desk will determine what you are allowed to take with you into the library. They can also answer general questions and sign in visitors to National Library employees. There is a small Library Shop in the lobby that sells pens, paper, books, and gifts.
There is a security guard posted at the exit, whose job is to determine what you are allowed to take out of the library. If you are asked to do so, you must show the guard all materials you are carrying.
Computer Use
There are electrical sockets next to the seats in the other reading rooms, where you may use your own laptop computer without disturbing other patrons. There are wireless networks in the entrance hall, the Main Reading Room, and the Research Reading Room.
You may use National Library computers for research and study. Most of the computers are intended only for searching the online catalogs. You may use the computers in the catalog room for e-mail and general web searches. Note that file attachments to e-mail cannot be opened on our computers.
You cannot use portable storage media (floppy disks, etc.) on National Library computers. Using the Internet to chat, play games, word process, download software, or perform similar activities is prohibited.
There is a wireless network in the Entrance Hall, the Main Reading Room, and the Research Reading Room. You must have a library card to connect to the network. Use your personal ID number (personnummer) as your user name, and your library card number as the password. The network is primarily intended for research and study tasks. If you use your computer in a way that disturbs others, our security guards have the right to ask you to leave the premises.
Food and Beverages
You may not bring food, fruit, candy, or beverages into the National Library. You must even leave bottled water in the coat check area. You may not use moist snuff or smoke anywhere on library premises. You may not take National Library materials into the Sumlen restaurant. These rules are intended to protect our materials from stains and soiling.
Rules of Conduct at the National Library
You must leave coats, briefcases, and bags in the coat check area. There are lockers for your use during the day. The lockers are emptied at closing time every evening. If you lose your locker key, you will be charged for it. Pets are not allowed on library premises.
The Reading Rooms are intended for the study of library materials and silence is required. You may talk outside the reading rooms as long as you do not disturb others. You may not "save" a seat in the reading room. If there is a line to use a reading room, library staff have the right to move materials brought in by patrons that are taking up a seat. Mobile phone use is allowed only in the outer entrance hall and the front desk hall. Phones must be switched off in all other areas.
By entering the library, you agree to inspection of your possessions when you enter and when you leave. You may not bring food, fruit, candy, or beverages into the library. You may eat only in our restaurant or in the dining area outside the restaurant, one level down. You may not take library materials into the restaurant or to the dining area outside the restaurant. Smoking and use of moist snuff are not allowed anywhere on library premises. Photography and filming are not allowed on our premises without permission. The security guards have the right to intervene if you disturb the peace or put others at risk.
Entry Ban
If you do not comply with the National Library rules, you may be banned from entry. A decision to ban entry can be appealed.
