There are a number of things you can do before you visit us that will help you make the most of your research time.
Find material in advance
Use our online catalogues to find out if we have what you’re looking for.
Search for books, newspapers, rare books, maps, magazines or journals using the National Library Catalogue.
The National Library Catalogue contains records for publications catalogued since 1982, and items from the Alexander Turnbull Library special collections received after 1984. Pre-1982 material is progressively included.
For manuscripts, photographs, drawings, prints, cartoons, ephemera or maps, search TAPUHI.
You can find out more about the collections in our Collections A-Z.
View our digital collections
Many collection items are available online. For example: Papers Past contains over one million pages of selected 19th and early 20th century New Zealand newspapers; Timeframes contains about 50,000 images from the Turnbull collections of photographs, drawings, prints, paintings, posters, cartoons, maps and manuscripts.
Plan your visit
Most visitors to the Library find the material they want is located in different parts of the Library, and that different access conditions apply. There are a number of things you can do to streamline your visit.
1. Order material in advance
To order material from the General Collections you need to register as a user. Once you have registered, you can order material online before your visit using the National Library Catalogue. We will hold the material at the ground floor Reference Desk until your visit.
To order material from Turnbull Library collections you need to contact the Library, giving details from the catalogues of the items you want to be ready for you when you arrive. You can do this by letter, phone, fax or email.
More about registering as a user
Ask a librarian for research help
2. Check the batch times for material you want to order
Material in the General Collections is delivered 20 minutes after you request it.
The Alexander Turnbull Library has set batch times:
- Requests for published items are collected at 9.30am and 11.30am, and 1.30 and 3.30pm, Monday to Friday.
- Requests for manuscript items are collected at 9.30am and 11.00am and 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm, Monday to Friday. Saturday morning batch times are 9.30am and 11am.
Items are ready for use 20 minutes after these times. Items will be held for you for five days.
3. Make a time to visit appointment-only collections
Contact us before your visit to make an appointment to visit the following appointment-only collections, or if you think a listening or viewing copy may need to be made of the items you wish to use.
- Cartographic Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library
- Drawings, Paintings and Prints collection, Alexander Turnbull Library
- Cartoon Archive, Alexander Turnbull Library
- Ephemera Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library
- Photographic Archive, Alexander Turnbull Library
- Dorothy Neal White Collection
- National Children’s Collection.
Make an appointment to visit Turnbull Library collections
Make an appointment to visit the Dorothy Neal White or National Children's collections4. Check whether the material you want to see has restricted access
In some cases you will need to apply for permission to view collection items if the creator or donor placed restrictions on access. Our staff can help you with this.
Ask a librarian for research help
5. Reading rooms
The Library has several reading rooms; which one you use will depend on what kinds of material you are looking at. We ask that you follow our conditions of use when using the reading rooms.
Download the conditions of use of reading rooms
Travel information
The National Library is close to public transport, including the railway station and the Wellington bus station. Check the Metlink website for train and bus timetables.
The Library is close to Archives New Zealand, making it easy to visit both on one day.
There are a number of hotels close to the Library, as well as cafes and a supermarket.
Check the accommodation guide on the Positively Wellington Tourism website for hotels close to the Library.
