About the National and University Library of Iceland, its history, policies, administration and more.
Overview of the many collections of the library and its branches
The library
The building
The library building is a prominent feature in Reykjavik, situated close to the University of Iceland, the National Museum and Hotel Saga. The large square building, with its characteristic red aluminium siding, was designed by architects Manfreð Vilhjálmsson and Þorvaldur S. Þorvaldsson and opened in 1994 when the two largest libraries in Iceland merged.
The building is a rectangle with 140,000 sq feet (13,000 sq metres) of floor space on four floors and a basement. The main entrance is on the first floor where the library café, the main desk and the reference desk are situated. From there stairs lead up to the 2nd and 3rd floors and to the National Department reading room on the ground floor.
Within the building there are approximately 500 seats for guests, plus a large reading room on the ground floor for the national and manuscript departments. It is possible to rent small closed offices on the upper floors. Small meeting rooms are also available for larger groups. On the first floor there is a conference room where various events are hosted.
The library café is a popular meeting place for students and other library guests. It offers hot meals for lunch and a selection of sandwiches and pastries during opening hours.
Apart from the café, consumption of food and drinks is prohibited within the library. Smoking is also strictly forbidden anywhere in the building.
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