National Library of Norway
Free exhibitions, Map Centre, events and decorated historic interiors in Norway's national memory institution. The permanent Enlightened exhibition displays selected cultural treasures from the twelfth century to the present.
The National Library of Norway serves as Norway’s national memory.
The collection is home to Norwegian knowledge and heritage.
The library at Solli plass hosts exhibitions, concerts, talks, guided tours, and lectures.
Everything is free and open to the public.
Exhibition: Enlightened
This is the first time everyone will be able to see and listen to some of the most unique, spectacular and historically significant cultural expressions in the National Library’s collections, dating from the twelfth century until the present day.
Among the objects in the exhibition, you will find Edvard Grieg’s handwritten score for his concerto in A minor, the Norwegian Association for Women’s Rights’ periodical Nylænde, voting ballots from the Norwegian monarchy referendum of 1905, Roald Amundsen’s South Pole letters, Norway’s first website and Julie Andem’s script for SKAM.
Admission is free of charge.
The Map Centre
The Map Centre contains the world’s most extensive collection of printed maps of Norway, the Nordic countries and the High North. The oldest of these maps are from 1482, and the newest from the late 1800s.
As a collection, these maps represent both a history of the geographical epistemology of the Nordic countries and a comprehensive account of the development of the maps and the subject of geography.
Admission is free of charge.
The Collection
The National Library of Norway’s collection contains everything from books, magazines, music, film, radio and TV programmes, pictures, photographs, theatre material, maps, posters and newspapers to unique handicraft collections and special book collections.
Oria is the National Library’s catalogue of our printed and digital collections.
Distribution
Large parts of the National Library of Norway’s collection are digitalised and can be viewed online. The collection can also be accessed through borrowing, exhibitions, conferences and events.
Storage
The collection comprises legally deposited documents, historic collections, deposited materials, gifts and purchased materials. The storage shall facilitate optimal lifetimes for all content. Consequently, the National Library of Norway’s work involves preventive conservation and active preservation, and restoration and production of copies.
Middle Ages to the Present
The oldest documents in the National Library of Norway’s collection are Magnus Lagabøters Landslov from the beginning of the 14th century, and Psalteriet (David’s Psalms), a prayer book from the Kvikne church in Hedmark. The oldest part of the Psalm book is believed to date from the 13th century. Together with documents from the present era, these represent important elements of a shared Norwegian cultural heritage, where all content is preserved for the benefit of future generations.
Loans to public exhibitions
The National Library holds the collections in trust for the nation. Part of our statutory obligation is to ensure the safety, security and ongoing preservation of objects within our care. The National Library may subject to such restrictions and conditions as we think necessary to safeguard our collections, lend objects to public exhibitions.
We will make assessments regarding the condition of the items and other conditions. To enable the Library to balance its overall obligations and in order to prepare the loan, we do require a formal loan request at least three months in advance of the exhibition.To prepare for this request, borrowers should contact us at this address: utstillingslan@nb.no
Opening hours
Admission to the National Library is free of charge.
Monday—Friday: 9am – 10pm
Saturday: 10am – 8pm
Closed Sundays.
Opening hours during the summer holidays:
22 June – Sunday 9 August
Monday – Friday: 10:00 – 17:00
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Directions
The National Library of Norway’s public division is located at Henrik Ibsens gate 110 at Solli plass.
Metro: Nationaltheatret station – from here visitors can either walk or take a bus/tram in the direction of Solli plass
Bus: no. 21, 30, 31 to Solli plass
Tram: no. 12 and 13 to Solli plass
Parking: Parking places available in Observatorigata (fee payable)
The library is handicap accessible.