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 29 2019
Alex’s Adventures in Masterland
Wednesday 05 2019
Stories behind the book — 'Tatau: A History of Samoan Tattooing'
Friday 07 2019
Open the Book: Developing the school library to support reading for pleasure — Wellington
Tuesday 11 2019
Intrigue and inspire: Using rich resources to explore our past (Whanganui)
Wednesday 12 2019
Birdstories
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.
National Archival and Library Institutions Ministerial Group
The Department of Internal Affairs has released the submissions received by the Ministerial Group and the Summary of Submissions provided to Ministers.
More about National Archival and Library Institutions Ministerial Group
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
T is for Tumblr
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!
