Currently closedPrecaution in connection with the corona virus
„Ins tiefe Österreich“ (“Deep into Austria”)Peter Handke’s note book for a novel
Gerettet! (Saved!)Telegram from Hannah Arendt to Günter Anders after successfully fleeing to the USA
A finger on the pulse of literature
Whether it be the poems of Ingeborg Bachmann, plays by Ödön von Horvath or novels by Peter Handke, you can find the originals in the Literary Archive, one of the most important institutions of its kind in the German-speaking region. We collect and acquire literary legacies, both pre- and post-death, of Austrian authors from the 20th century (notably from 1945) and make them available for research purposes.
We were recently able to acquire a significant portion of the literary estate of the Jewish intellectual and salonnière » Bertha Zuckerkandl.
The Austrian National Library is currently closed due to official requirements. This precaution in connection with the corona virus affects both the Library at Heldenplatz, the departments and museums. We ask for your understanding and will inform you at this point as soon as normal operation can be resumed.
In the book issue, all provision is reserved until one week after operations have resumed.
• All borrowed works are extended for the entire closing time.
• During the closing time no new reminder fees will accrue.
• Online orders are not possible during the closing time, but research in the OPAC and databases are available.
• Please do not return any books by post.
• All tours and training courses are omitted.
After reopening the library, the Austrian National Library automatically extends all currently valid annual tickets for the duration of the corona-dependent closing time free of charge. If an annual ticket has already expired or expires in the next few days, it can be extended as usual in the »Ticket Shop. A free extension until April 20 is also possible: Please write an e-mail stating your user ID to benuetzung@onb.ac.at.This service also applies to researcher annual tickets and the borrower's cards that cannot be extended in the ticket shop.
Despite the closing of the reading rooms, annual tickets entitle the user to numerous research and access options in the » Database Information System (DBIS)
All media lend for off-premises usehave been provisionally extended until April 20. If the closure lasts longer, the special authorisation for off-premises reading is automatically renewed again. Media that were made available for the reading rooms remain reserved until one week after the library has reopened.The sending of scans - for example of essays from anthologies - is possible to a limited extent and in accordance with the provisions of copyright law on the terms of the » price list. When ordering there may be longer waiting times.
The staff of the information services are happy to answer any questions: The e-mail information@onb.ac.at and the Live Chat on the homepage of the Austrian National Library are open from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
We ask for your understanding that all events until the end of May are cancelled. We will provide information on all other events on time on this website.