Entering the reading halls at the National Library of Israel with your personal library card

Entering the Reading Halls

National Library of Israel, photo: Naama Klein
למעבר לתוכן מרכזי

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If you've made it this far, you've probably already noticed: The National Library of Israel is no ordinary library – it is a national institution preserving our most important cultural treasures. The reading halls are the beating heart of the Library, the gateway to our treasure trove of knowledge, a place where you can touch history and see how new knowledge is formed.

People come to the reading halls to study, research, work, examine materials and expand their intellectual horizons.

Our staff of librarians can be found in the reading halls and will be happy to assist you and answer questions.


A Few Important Notes

  • To enter the reading halls, you must present your personal library card.
  • The books in the reading halls are primarily intended for research purposes and cannot be loaned. Most of the books kept in the Library are not found in the reading halls but rather in our automated storeroom. They can only be viewed or loaned by pre-ordering them using the online catalog.
  • The reading halls are a quiet space reserved for study and research, and therefore there are a number of rules you should know before entering.

Entering With a Library Card

The library card is intended to help us improve Library services and to preserve the items in our collections.

  • Each time you enter the reading halls you must display your library card. Please also abide by our Code of Conduct detailed here.
  • Everyone over the age of 14 must obtain a library card to enter the reading halls.
  • Please approach the circulation desk to request, free of charge, a physical library card in order to enter the reading halls.
  • Digital library cards will become operational on May 1, 2024.
  • The card is personal. It may not be passed on to another person.


How do I Issue my library card?

Groups

  • In order to maintain a quiet space for study and research, organized groups are not permitted entry to the reading halls.
  • Organized groups can visit the exhibits and go on one of our guided tours by coordinating a group visit.

Family Visits

The reading halls are a quiet space, and therefore we observe a special set of rules.

  • Children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult while in the reading halls.
  • There are no children's books in the reading halls. Children's books can be ordered via the catalog, and you will receive them within an hour or so, after which they can be read quietly in the reading halls. Our staff of librarians is happy to help.
  • Parents are responsible for ensuring their children observe reading hall rules. Running and making noise is not permitted. Books must be handled carefully.
  • The need to maintain silence is an opportunity to experiment with non-verbal communication: You can agree on hand signals ahead of time or exchange text messages. See if you can meet the challenge together!


Families that are not able to observe the rules will be asked to leave the reading halls and will be able to observe them through the windows.

Viewing the Automated Storeroom

Because of the acoustics of the reading halls, visits to the automated storeroom window are limited to only a few minutes. Please remember to keep quiet while viewing the automated storeroom.

  • You can reach the viewing area by using the elevator near the reading hall entrance.
  • We may need to occasionally close this area to visitors, depending on the amount of traffic in the reading halls.

How do I Issue my Library Card?

  1. You must first register, free of charge, on the Library website, by left-clicking the icon in the upper right section of the homepage and selecting "Sign up".
  2. Once you've registered, you can obtain, free of charge, a physical card by requesting one at the circulation desk on floor -1.
  3. Your Library card is to be presented to the guard at the entrance whenever you enter the reading halls. This card is personal and made for long-term use. 
  4. If you're already registered on the Library website, there's no need to register again. All you need to do is approach the circulation desk on floor -1 to request a physical card
  5. Digital Library cards will become operational on May 1, 2024.

If you have any issues or questions concerning the activation of your library card, you may approach our staff at the circulation desk on floor -1.

We hope you have a fascinating, fruitful visit to the National Library of Israel and a pleasant time spent in our reading halls.

Reading Hall Rules

  1. Library card

    ✅ Entry to the reading halls is only permitted after presenting a library card.

  2. Age

    ✅ Anyone over the age of 14 must present a library card to enter.

    ✅ Children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult while in the reading halls.

  3. Quiet space

    ✅ Please remain silent while in the reading halls:

    ✅ - No talking. No talking on mobile phones either.

    ✅ - Please put your phone on "silent" mode.

  4. Personal belongings

    ✅ In order to safeguard our collections, only equipment that is necessary for study or research work can be brought into the reading halls:

    ✅ - Please leave your bags and other belongings in the lockers or cloak room.

    ✅ - No food or beverages, aside from capped water bottles.

    ✅ - Please keep an eye on your equipment, the Library is not responsible for equipment left unattended in the reading halls.

  5. Conservation

    ✅ It is important that we preserve the items from the collections and handle them carefully. Do not remove books from the reading halls and do not remove items that have been ordered for viewing purposes from the Library.

  6. The Automated Storeroom

    ✅ Please limit your visit to the automated storeroom window to a few minutes. Please remember to keep quiet while viewing the automated storeroom.

  7. Photographs

    ✅ Please respect the privacy of those present. You may take photographs in the reading halls, but do not take photos of people without their permission.

  8. Groups

    ✅ Entry to the reading halls is not permitted with organized groups.