Learn more about the National Library (NL) and find out how to make the best use of its services.
Guided tours
A standard tour of the public areas includes the following:
- an introduction to the history of the NL and its work
- information about the services it offers
- samples from the collections
We can organise tours for groups of five or more on request. Individuals can join a group.
For groups with special interests, we can also put together a programme focusing on additional areas, such as
- conservation and restoration
- the Literary Archives and the Hermann Hesse room (memorial and exhibition room with documents and objects from the writer’s literary estate)
Introduction for students
This introduction offers an overview of
- the collections
- how to use the NL
- the NL’s services
Afterwards you will be better placed to assess which topics and issues merit a visit to the NL.
Possible focus areas for the introduction:
- collection mandate, holdings
- tour of the public areas
- a practical overview of the work facilities, study carrels, IT resources, new media, photocopiers and microfilm readers, etc.
- searching in the catalogues and ordering documents
- specialist bibliographies and reference works, online, offline and in print
We will be happy to organise student introductions for groups of five or more.
Last modification 25.06.2024
Contact
Swiss National Library
Information Retrieval Service
Hallwylstrasse 15
3003
Bern
Switzerland
Phone
+41 58 462 89 35