Building hours

• Monday to Thursday: 8am to 8pm
• Friday: 8am to 5pm
• Saturday and Sunday: 9am to 5pm
• Public holidays: 9am to 5pm
• Good Friday and Christmas Day: Closed

Reading rooms

Find out more about our reading rooms.

Main Reading Room

• Monday to Thursday: 10am to 8pm
• Friday and Saturday: 10am to 5pm
• Sunday: 1:30pm to 5pm
• Public holidays: Closed

Special Collections Reading Room

• Monday to Thursday: 10am to 8pm
• Friday and Saturday: 10am to 5pm
• Sunday: Closed
• Public holidays: Closed

Petherick Reading Room

• Monday to Thursday: 10am to 8pm
• Friday and Saturday: 10am to 5pm
• Sunday: Closed
• Public holidays: Closed

Collection deliveries

We do not deliver collection requests during evenings or on weekends. 

Check detailed collection delivery times.

Cafes

About the Bookplate and Paperplate cafes

Bookplate

• Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 4pm
• Saturday and Sunday: 9am to 4pm
• Public holidays: 9am to 4pm
• Good Friday and Christmas Day: Closed

Paperplate

• Monday to Friday: 9 am to 3 pm
• Closed on weekends and public holidays

Bookshop

• Monday to Sunday: 9am to 5pm
• Public holidays: 9am to 5pm
• Good Friday and Christmas Day: Closed

You can shop online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Galleries

Exhibition Gallery

• Monday to Sunday: 9am to 5pm
• Public holidays: 9am to 5pm
• Good Friday and Christmas Day: Closed

Treasures Gallery

• Monday to Sunday: 9am to 5pm
• Public holidays: 9am to 5pm
• Good Friday and Christmas Day: Closed

Friends Lounge

Due to major building works, the Friends Lounge is currently open to members on weekdays only, during Library opening hours.

Public holidays 2026

Public holidays as observed in the Australian Capital Territory.

When a public holiday falls on a weekend a subsequent or additional date may be observed.