Practical information for visitors to the library
The entrance to the National Museum's library is in Dronning Mauds gate 2. It is not necessary to book a visit in advance.
The library's book collections must be viewed on-site and is not borrowable. The collections searchable in the database Oria. Parts of the book collections are placed in storage, and some time should be expected to retrieve them.
Workspaces in the library
We offer a quite reading room with 22 workstations, in addition to 20 workstations in the library. The workspaces are primarily reserved for visitors who intend to use the library's collections.
Study rooms
If you are a researcher working professionally and scientifically with the National Museum's library and archive collections over an extended period, it is possible to book a personal study room. To request access, please send an email to biblioteket@nasjonalmuseet.no, stating your project or library material of interest, as well as the specific dates and weeks you are applying for. For other purposes, drop-in access to study rooms may be available upon request at the library front desk.
Upon visit
At the library there is access to WiFi, some electronic resources and photocopying facilities.
Bags, backpacks and tote bags are not allowed inside the library and must be stored in the lockers in the cloakroom.
Only bottled water is permitted inside the library. Food and other beverages may be consumed in the designated eating area near the entrance and must not be brought into the library.
For library enquiries contact us at: biblioteket@nasjonalmuseet.no.
The Collection
The library's collection contains around 150,000 books and around 1,300 Norwegian and international journals covering the visual arts, arts and crafts, design, architecture, art theory, conservation and museology.
A significant part of the book collection consists of artist monographs, exhibition catalogues and collection catalogues. In addition, the library has a large collection of encyclopaedias.
Around 124 journals in the library are ongoing subscriptions and are available in print format. Some are also available in digital format.