The National Library Catalogue contains records of published items held in the General Collections, Schools Collection and the Alexander Turnbull Library collections.
Search the National Library Catalogue
Use the National Library Catalogue to search for:
- books (including talking books)
- magazines and journals
- rare books
- CDs, DVDs, videos, and other audio-visual items
- music scores
- published maps (some with digital images)
- newspapers
- CD-ROMs and computer disks
- kits
- websites
- microfilm and microfiche copies of items.
Items from the General Collections can be used at the Library's reading room at 77 Thorndon Quay, Wellington, and can often be borrowed to use at your local library via interloan.
Borrowing from us via interloan
Items from the Alexander Turnbull Library can only be only used if they are available through the Wellington building's redevelopment period. Some Alexander Turnbull Library copied material is available now at the reading room at 77 Thorndon Quay.
More about accessing the Alexander Turnbull Library collections
More about the Wellington building redevelopment
Schools and home schoolers can borrow items from the Schools Collection through the Library's Curriculum Information Service.
Searching the National Library Catalogue
Some tips to get you started:
- Use the 'keyword relevance search' if you are searching by subject rather than for a specific item.
- Use 'title (begins with)', 'author heading', or 'serial title (begins with)' if you are searching for a specific item.
- Use the 'quick limits' tool to limit your search to a date range, location where items are held, or item type.
The National Library Catalogue has further search tips and help pages. If you’re using the catalogue offsite and need assistance, contact us.
Ask a librarian for research help
Items not listed on the National Library catalogue
The National Library shifted to electronic cataloguing in 1983, and the Alexander Turnbull Library in 1984. The National Library Catalogue does not yet list all the items published before 1984, although retrospective cataloguing is ongoing.
If you cannot find what you’re looking for when using the National Library Catalogue, please visit or contact us. We can help you use other search tools for pre-1984 material, or conduct searches on your behalf.
Ask a librarian for research help
Requesting General Collections items from the National Library Catalogue
When searching the Catalogue, you can request items from the General Collections online to use in the ground floor reading room after registering with us as a reader.
