Research Library & Archives

The National Gallery Research Library & Archives is home to one of the most comprehensive collection of visual arts literature in Australia. It is a resource like no other, documenting the history and development of our nation’s dynamic art and culture.

With more than 260,000 items, the Research Library's holdings cover Australian and international art with strengths aligned to areas of the national art collection.

Our collection includes books, exhibition catalogues, serials, digital and online resources, auction catalogues, as well as a range of audio-visual materials. In our special collections we have interview recordings with artists, posters, more than 100,000 ephemera files, and the archives of 148 Australian and international artists and art organisations.

The Library is open from Monday to Friday, 10am – 4.30pm, except on public holidays. We are open to visiting researchers by appointment.

Upcoming closure: Australia Day Public Holiday, Wednesday 26 January 2022.

Our Library staff will help with your research via the online reference query form, or you can use our catalogue to search online.