Range and access

The holdings of the Swiss Literary Archives can be consulted in the reading room of the NL. — © NL

Conditions for Accessing Original Documents Held by the ASL

• Original documents from the SLA can only be viewed in the SLA reading room.
• Use is subject to the relevant agreements and the Regulations on the Use.
• Please contact us at least 14 days in advance if you wish to consult original documents on site ([e-mail]).
• The ASL reading room is open from Monday to Friday, from 10.00 to 17.00, by appointment.
• The estates can be consulted free of charge.
• The use of documents from the ASL’s collections are subject to Swiss copyright term (until 70 years following the authors death) and to the authorisation of the relevant rights holder(s).

Your contacts

• Regulations on the Use of the Swiss National Library (NL)

  PDF376.32 kB1 May 2023

• Benutzungsantrag für die Sammlung des Schweizerischen Literaturarchivs (SLA)

  PDF90.75 kB16 September 2026

• Application for permission to publish from the collections of the SLA

  PDF101.61 kB18 May 2021

Photographing or obtaining a copy of the documents

It shall be the responsibility of readers to assess the copyright status of contents prior to undertaking copying or photography. You may copy or photograph documents from the SLA yourself, subject to certain conditions. Low-resolution or high-definition analogue or digital reproductions may also be ordered from the National Library’s photographic laboratory.

• Documents that are free of copyright restrictions can be photographed. Copyright protection expires 70 years after the death of the author of the content.
• Published sources, such as press cuttings, books, newspapers, programmes, etc., can be photographed. No authorisation is required.
• Documents protected by copyright may only be copied or photographed with the written consent of the rights holders. This authorisation must be submitted to the SLA. Documents may be photographed provided that an authorisation has been obtained from the SLA. You will find the link to the request form below.

Self-Service Photography at the SLA

• To obtain copies of documents held at the SLA, please contact [e-mail] before placing your order.

• Order for reproductions

• All information relating to ordering reproductions (prices, turnaround times, resolution) is available at the following link:

Reproductions

• Documents which have already been digitised and are available online can be accessed via HelveticArchives, Open Government Data and e-manuscripta.

• HelveticArchives
• opendata.admin.ch. Swiss National Library
• e-manuscripta