Use the Library
Researchers
Start your research at the Alexander Turnbull Library
Librarians
Use Te Puna and National Library services
Publishers & Authors
Get an ISBN, a record, and advice about Legal Deposit
Schools
Support for school libraries and learning
Business
The information you need, quickly and easily
Image search
Browse and search half a million digital images
Papers Past
Millions of pages of historic NZ newspapers
Subscription e-resources
Search electronic resources from around the world
PublicationsNZ
Search everything published in New Zealand
Donate to the collections
Donate items to the Library collections
Borrowing for an exhibition
You can borrow items to use in public exhibitions.
Upcoming events
Wednesday 27 2019
An evening with Karin Serres
Thursday 28 2019
Intrigue and inspire: Using rich resources to explore our past — primary schools (Auckland)
Friday 29 2019
Intrigue and inspire: Using rich resources to explore our past — primary schools (Wellington)
Wednesday 03 2019
Ordinary, extraordinary: recording the stories of sex workers
Thursday 04 2019
Intrigue and inspire: Using rich resources to explore our past — secondary (Auckland) — cancelled and replaced
See events
Flickr Commons
Free to download and use
Download high-res collection images and use them however you want.
Get advice
Become an oral historian
Oral history advice and workshops to get you started, or hone your skills.
Official books of condolence
Official books of condolence for the victims of the Christchurch attacks are available for the public to sign, at the National Library of New Zealand, Molesworth Street, Wellington.
Please come between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 1pm Saturdays.
You’re encouraged to share your thoughts in support of those affected by last Friday’s tragic events in Christchurch.
Kia kaha.
Lilies
Performed by Irene Ainsley, New Zealand contralto, with piano.
A recently digitised gem from New Zealand’s musical past.
Music collections
Smart Alex
Creative writing competition for secondary school students
Enter the Smart Alex competition and win great cash prizes.
Preservation advice
Look after special items
Learn how to take care of your precious photographs, books, and digital documents with advice from the National Preservation Office.
Interloan
Our books in your hands
Get National Library materials sent to your local library by making an interloan request. And more.
Our strategic directions
Turning knowledge into value: this is the National Library's strategic direction to 2030.
See how we're aiming for big changes in taonga, knowledge, and reading.
Read the strategy
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Turnbull Ephemera
Beautiful and unique posters, prints, and other materials from daily life.
Turnbull Rare Books
Gorgeous manuscripts, intricate fine printing, and other wonderful objects.
Open data
Build new things
Data sets and API access to metadata for millions of records. Grab it and see what you can make!
