Retrieval

This section provides the retrieval schedule for requested materials. Once the staff has received your request, they retrieve the material from the underground stacks at specific times. You must have a library card and ID to borrow materials.

Borrowing Requested Materials

You can pick up most requested materials at the Information and Circulation Desk. Requested maps, pictures, printed music, posters, manuscripts, ephemera printed before 1900, and all publications printed before 1830 must be picked up and returned at the Special Reading Room Desk. Retrieved materials are held for seven days, including the day of retrieval. If you want someone else to pick up materials you have requested, the person must have your written authorization.

Retrieval Schedule

Our employees retrieve materials on a set schedule.

Monday-Thursday: If you request your material before noon, you will be able to pick it up the same day by 4:00 pm. If you make your request after noon, the material will be available the next day at noon.
Friday: If you request your material before noon, you will be able to pick it up the same day by 4:00 pm. If you make your request after noon, the material will be available by noon on the following Monday.
Saturday-Sunday: Items requested during the weekend are retrieved the following Monday by noon.

We retrieve materials kept in the Swedish Library Depository in Bålsta on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The materials are available in the National Library by 4:00 pm.

Manuscripts

Monday through Friday, we retrieve materials at 10:30 am and 1:00 and 3:00 pm. There is an additional retrieval time on Wednesdays at 5:00 pm., except during the summer. The material is held for 30 minutes after the times stated. You may read materials that have already been retrieved on Saturdays as well.

Maps, Pictures and Printed Music

You may submit requests at the Special Reading Room Desk or by phone: +46 (0) 8 463 43 21, Monday-Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. You will have to agree with our staff on when you will study the materials you request. We do not retrieve materials on Saturdays.

Materials Printed Before 1830, Rare Books and Special Collections

Generally, we retrieve these publications according to the retrieval schedule provided above, but it may take longer in some cases.

Last updated: 2009-01-19
Contact person: Svante Printz, e-mail: firstname.lastname@kb.se
Main Reading Room at the National Library

National Library

National Archive for Audiovisual Material