Reading rooms at the National Library re-open from December 7 from 8.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.
The reading rooms of the National Library of Poland re-open from Monday, December 7, 2020. In order to ensure the safety of Library users and staff, rules concerning use of the reading rooms during the epidemic remain in effect.
Visitors are required to disinfect their hands on entering the National Library and to keep their mouths and noses covered during their visit.
Please note that the digital resources of the National Library are still available 24/7 on polona.pl, providing access to more than three million publications.
Main Reading Room
A total of 15 desks are available in the Main Reading Room (Czytelnia Ogólna), designated in accordance with the Regulation of the Council of Ministers of November 26, 2020. A maximum of one reservation a day is possible, for one of the following time slots:
- 8.30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- 1.30 to 6 p.m.
- 6.30 to 8.30 p.m.
In addition, six desks are available from which the digital resources of the National Library (including copyright items) may be accessed.
Ordering 19th to 21st century books and magazines
Readers may order a maximum of two items (19th to 21st century books and magazines) per seat reservation. Orders can be placed via the electronic catalogue of the National Library. Subsequent orders can only be placed after returning the items borrowed.
We encourage users to order first and foremost publications which are not available in other libraries in Warsaw or via the Academica interlibrary loan system for books and scientific publications (to which more than 1,200 libraries in Poland have access) or via POLONA.
On-demand digitisation
Orders for early printed books and most microfilms will be sent for free scanning and made available via POLONA within a week. During the epidemic, these items will only be available via polona.pl.
Users can already place orders for free scanning of early printed books and other publications not covered by copyright (which usually ends 70 years after the death of the author, i.e. items published before 1950) via the "On-demand digitisation" service.
Heritage Collections Reading Room
Manuscripts will be available in the Heritage Collections Reading Room (Czytelnia Zasobu Wieczystego) between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. Please reserve a desk in advance by email on manus@bn.org.pl.
Two desks are available in the Heritage Collections Reading Room, designated in accordance with the Regulation of the Council of Ministers of November 26, 2020.
To access graphic materials, maps or musical scores, please make an appointment with the head of the collection in question via email:
- Prints and drawings: ikon@bn.org.pl
- Maps: kart@bn.org.pl
- Musical scores: zzmuz@bn.org.pl.