The legal basis for the Swiss National Library (NL) is the Federal Act on the Swiss National Library of 18 December 1992, which sets out the tasks of the NL. Ordinances based on the Act cover operational details such as fees. The management issues directives and regulations based on the Act and the ordinances. These govern the relationship between users and their library.
National Library Act (German, French and Italian only)
- governs the NL’s tasks and organisation
National Library Ordinance (German, French and Italian only)
- specifies that the NL consists of the Library (General Collection), the Prints and Drawings Department, the Swiss Literary Archives, the Swiss National Sound Archives and the Centre Dürrenmatt Neuchâtel
- governs the NL’s collection mandates, operations and services
- governs the NL’s collection mandates, operations and services
- sets out the services for which the NL charges fees
- governs how much NL services cost
User regulations
Regulations on the Use of the Swiss National Library (NL) (PDF, 367 kB, 01.05.2023)- set out the rules for using the NL’s collections and premises
Last modification 02.10.2025
