The New Zealand Serials Collection forms part of the Alexander Turnbull Library collections. It is kept for preservation and research purposes, while the General Serials Collection is held for current use.

Items in the New Zealand Serials Collection are available in a variety of formats, including paper, microfilm and digital.

The collection contains millions of editions from more than 40,000 magazine and periodical titles. We add about 25,000 items to the collection each year, through legal deposit, purchase and donation.

More about donations and bequests

More about the Alexander Turnbull Library collections

Planned changes to collection access

Our collections will be relocated while the Library building in Wellington is being redeveloped. During the relocation period, some collections will be available in two temporary locations: Archives New Zealand and a location on Thorndon Quay.

Relocation period availability:

  • You may be able to source copies of materials in this collection through other libraries. Our staff can assist you with this.
  • Some original materials will be available through the Client-Held Collection at Archives New Zealand.

We expect to finalise the dates of the relocation later in 2009. We will give you at least one month’s notice of collection access changes and closures.

For more information email atl@natlib.govt.nz

Find out more about planned changes to collection access

Access items in this collection

Search for descriptions of items in the New Zealand Serials Collection using the National Library Catalogue. Digital copies of selected early New Zealand periodicals are available on Papers Past.

Collection items are available from the Research Centre on the ground floor of the Library. You can get microfilmed serials by self-service. Original paper copies need to be requested. You can make a request by phone, email, letter, or in person.

Copies will be issued on microfilm if original copies are too fragile.

National Library Catalogue

Papers Past website

More about registering and requesting

Get copies from items in this collection

You can get copies from items in this collection, provided copying doesn’t breach copyright.

More about making copies

More about copyright and usage

Borrow items in this collection

The Library doesn't lend items from this collection.

Get help

We can answer your enquires in person, by letter, phone or email. For help using this collection contact the Curator, New Zealand and Pacific Published Collections.


Contact Details
Contact Us Alexander Turnbull Library collections