Lending service

Schools and home educators can borrow from our extensive collections of fiction and non-fiction books to inspire and inform your students’ inquiry and develop their love of reading.

Sign in to request some books

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Borrowing from us

Why borrow from us. Who can use our lending service.
Books from National Library's school lending service on display at a workshop.

What you can borrow

Find out about our borrowing options, how our lending service works.
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Quick guide

Borrowing books from the National Library is easy — and here's how to do it!
Selection of books from National Library's School Lending Collection, including books in world languages, read alouds, books in accessible formats, books for teaching Aotearoa NZ's histories curriculum, fiction and non-fiction for all year levels.

Books in our lending collections

We have engaging books suitable for students at every year level.
A selection of books from the National Library Schools Lending Collection that support the Better Start Literacy Approach.

Books for Better Start Literacy Approach

Find out how to borrow these books from us.
Calendar with a pencil to enter dates to request books from National Library Services to Schools' lending service or to return them to the National Library.

Dates to request or return books

When to request and return books each term.
Boxes and books from school loans returned to National Library Services to Schools.

Return books

How to use NZ Post's service. Find return address labels.
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Help with registering, passwords, changing coordinator

Find help if you have these problems.
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Renewing books, overdue, lost books

Our renewals policy. What to do if your books are overdue, lost, or damaged.
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Offers for small schools

Borrowing options specifically for small schools.
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Home educators — how to borrow

Families who homeschool their children can borrow books from us.
Box of books from National Library's school lending service.

Lending news

Read important updates about our lending service.
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Case studies

Case studies showing how schools are coordinating and managing their loans from us.

National Library Catalogue

All school loan coordinators and home educators can borrow from the Schools Lending Collection.

Secondary/composite school loan coordinators and home educators can also borrow specific titles from:

  • Wellington, Overseas Non-fiction Collection

  • Wellington, New Zealand Pacific Collection.