Loans and consultation
Loans and consultation
Loans
Documents located in the Reading Room
In the Reading Room, you have free access to books, journals, newspapers, films and CDs. You may take items from the shelves, view them on site and, depending on the material, borrow them. Documents that cannot be borrowed are marked with a red band.
Self-service loan terminals are available on each floor to register your loans. No Reading Room items can be reserved online via a-z.lu.
Documents located in the closed stacks
The National Library has a large collection stored in closed stacks. These publications can be searched and reserved via the a-z.lu portal. You must be logged in before you can request a document.
Processing times
Reservations are generally available within 2 hours after ordering. However, bound newspaper volumes are available on the working day following the order, no later than 15.00 from Tuesday to Friday and 12.00 noon on Saturday.
Collection of documents
You will be notified by email as soon as your items are ready for collection at the loans desk during its opening hours. Reserved items are held for 7 days. After this period, they are returned to storage.
Some documents can also be collected, after reservation, from the self-service collection point located in front of the library.
On-site consultation
Documents located in the Reading Room
All Reading Room materials may be viewed on site, even without a library card. Some items are excluded from home lending. These are marked with a white label featuring a red band.
Rare and precious documents
Rare and precious documents belonging to the Special Collections are not available for home lending. However, they can be reserved via a-z.lu or by written request to the relevant department and then viewed in the Rare Books Reading Room on the 1st floor.
A member of the National Library staff will be on hand to assist you with your enquiries and to guide you in the proper handling of valuable documents.
Microforms
The National Library provides microform reader-reproducers for the reading and reproduction of microfilmed or microfiche newspapers and books. Simply reserve your microfilms via a-z.lu and collect them at the loans desk. A member of staff can assist you with the handling of microforms.
For preservation reasons, the majority of newspapers available on microfilm can no longer be viewed in printed form. Exceptions to this are Luxemburger Wort, Tageblatt, Républicain Lorrain, Lëtzebuerger Journal and Zeitung vum Lëtzebuerger Vollek. Bound newspaper volumes are available on the working day following the order, no later than 15.00 from Tuesday to Friday and 12.00 noon on Saturday.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if the item I want is already reserved by someone else?
You can still place a reservation via your account on a-z.lu. Your request will be added to a waiting list. As soon as the item becomes available, you will receive an email notification.
What should I do if I cannot find an item in a-z.lu?
It may help to check the spelling, try alternative titles or search terms, or broaden your search criteria. If the item still cannot be found, our reference service, located on the ground floor of the Reading Room, can assist you with your search.
How can I tell whether an item is borrowable or for consultation only?
This information is indicated in the a-z.lu catalogue and on the item itself. In the Reading Room, non-borrowable items are marked with a red band.
Are there any fees for late returns?
Yes. If loan periods are not respected, fees may be applied in accordance with the current lending regulations. Charges may include a €10 late fee, as well as, where applicable, the replacement cost of the item and a fixed €25 non-refundable processing fee. The user account may also be temporarily suspended until the issue has been resolved.
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