In English

Most of our collection items are held in closed stores and need to be ordered in advance of your visit. To order and access material from our collections, you need to be 18 years or older and a registered user at the National Library. You can apply for a library card here.

Your will need to collect your library card at the Information and loans desk on the ground floor before you can pick up pre-ordered material. Do not forget to bring a current identification card or passport.

For safety reasons you are required to deposit coats and bags in lockers in our cloakroom, which is situated to the right of the Library entrance hall.

Using the lockers is free of charge and you will receive a transparent plastic bag for any personal belongings.

In order to protect the material, food and drink is not allowed into the Library. However, you can visit Café Valfrid or the Sumlen Restaurant. There is also a picnic room on the ground floor for those wishing to bring a packed lunch.

Places to eat and drink

Most of the material held by the National Library can only be studied on site. This is because the Library holds a national copy to be preserved and available for reading and research both today and for future generations. The Library also holds a large number of acquired foreign books within the humanities and social sciences.

You may use your own computer in the Reading Rooms. There are electrical sockets by most study spaces. There are also a number of computers available for visitors wanting to conduct research. Please note that they have neither word processing programmes or a connection for a USB-stick.

The National Library offers free Wifi (KB-Wifi-Free) and no log-in is needed. You will simply be prompted to accept the terms when connecting.

Talking is allowed outside the Reading Rooms, if you take care not to disturb fellow visitors. Speaking on mobile phones is allowed in the entrance hall, in Café Valfrid, or in Restaurant Sumlen.