The library

Practical information for visitors to the library

The entrance to the National Museum's library is in Dronning Mauds gate 2, and is open to everyone.

The library's book collections must be viewed on site and is not borrowable. The collections are arranged according to the Dewey Decimal Classification system, where each subject has its own number. The collection is also searchable in Oria.

Parts of the book collections are placed in storage, and some time should be expected to retrieve them. 

Upon visit

We offer a quite reading room with 22 workstations, in addition to 20 workstations in the library. 

At the library there is access to WiFi, some electronic resources and photocopying facilities.

Bags and backpacks may not be brought into the library, and must be placed in lockers in the cloakroom.

Drinks are only permitted in the library if it is bottled water. Food and other drinks are only permitted in a separate dining area at the entrance and must not be taken 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 123 journals in the library are ongoing subscriptions and are available in print format. Some are also available in digital format.