Guided tours

Learn about the NL’s premises and services.
© NL, Simon Schmid

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 08.11.2022