Þjóðarbókhlaða, the library building at Arngrímsgata 3, has first-class facilities for study and research.
The Library aims to meet students’ different needs with a variety of places to work: study areas where complete quiet is kept (3rd and 4th floors), group tables in open space where you can talk (2nd floor), and group study rooms that staff and students of Icelandic universities can book themselves. To keep the peace, please switch off your mobile phone if you choose to work in an area meant to be quiet.
Under Article 1 of Act No 142/2011 on the National and University Library of Iceland (in Icelandic), the National and University Library of Iceland is the library of the University of Iceland. In line with the cooperation and service agreement between the University of Iceland and the National and University Library of Iceland, seats set aside for the University’s students are reserved during examination periods. Other students are asked for their understanding.
The National Collection Reading Room on the 1st floor has rules of its own:
Please sign the guest book, and leave coats in the cloakroom and bags in the lockers in the entrance hall.
Desks must be cleared when you leave the room. If you wish, staff can keep items for you in locked cabinets in the National Collection’s entrance hall for the following days.
Study desks
There are study places on every floor of the building: about 430 seats at individual desks. The 3rd and 4th floors also have tables where up to four people can sit together. You may not reserve a desk, but you can leave one for up to an hour without losing it by setting the clock found on most desks. During examination periods, University of Iceland students have priority at the marked desks on the 3rd and 4th floors.
The 2nd floor has group tables, and talking is allowed there. The handbooks and reference works on this floor are for use in the building only. The desks in the Manuscript Collection and the National Collection are for those using those collections’ material.
Study rooms and group study rooms
The 26 study rooms on the 3rd and 4th floors are meant for scholars, postgraduate students and others who are working on a particular project and need the Library’s material for it. 4 of the rooms have computers with word processing, internet access and more. Study room no. 28 on the 4th floor is for people with reduced mobility. Apply for a study room here (see the rules on allocation and the fees).
The Library has 4 group study rooms, one on the 3rd floor and three on the 4th. They seat 3–10 people. Book a group study room here.
Printing, photocopying and scanning
Visitors can print and photocopy for a fee. See the fees. Scanning is also available, free of charge. Paper comes in A4 and A3, and you can print in black and white or in colour.
Where:
- The printing, photocopying and scanning facilities are on the 2nd floor of Þjóðarbókhlaða
Access:
- To use the machine, you first register and create an account
- Once registered, you receive a PIN by e-mail
- Both the password and the PIN can be reset
- Further instructions and registration (note: this address only works on the LBS-HotSpot network, on eduroam and on the University’s computers on the 3rd and 4th floors)
Payment:
- Buy credit for printing and photocopying at the service desk
- Enter your PIN to activate the machine
University of Iceland students
- University of Iceland students can use their printing quota in Ugla (the University’s intranet) on the printer on the 3rd floor, which the service centre of the University’s Division of Information Technology at Háskólatorg runs in Þjóðarbókhlaða
Computers and internet
On the 1st floor, in the National Collection Reading Room:
Access to the internet and word-processing software.
On the 2nd floor:
Opposite the service desk: access to the internet and word-processing software.
On the 3rd floor:
In the study areas: for University of Iceland students and staff with a username and password for the University Network. The University’s Division of Information Technology looks after these computers.
In front of the service desk: access to the Library’s electronic journals, Tímarit.is and the article archive of the newspaper Morgunblaðið.
On the 4th floor:
In the study areas: for University of Iceland students and staff.
There are also search computers for lbs.leitir.is on every floor. Þjóðarbókhlaða has a wireless network (LBS-HotSpot) that anyone can join with their own laptop or mobile device.