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Every Wednesday, we invite you to join a guided tour for the general public, at no extra cost for ticket holders.
During the tour, we’ll get to know the architectural wonder that is the new National Library building, we will explore the impressive new reading halls and survey a selection of the five million items stored in the Library: rare books, antique manuscripts, photo albums, unique maps, historical posters, personal archives, and more. We will follow in the footsteps of words that shaped our lives, observe the beauty of artistic writings in the rotating exhibit, and discover striking works of art that are spread throughout the building and the beautiful surrounding gardens, among them the “Letters of Light” created by sculptor Micha Ullman.
Come and get to know the place that is home to Israel's great cultural treasures, and perhaps even discover your own story.
Tour duration: about an hour and a half.
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Photo: Ofrit Assaf-Arye
A Tour of a Selection of the Library’s Treasures
After years in the storerooms, the great treasures of the Jewish People are now being brought into the light! On the tour of the permanent exhibition, we’ll take a close look at the most ancient, rare, and precious manuscripts in the National Library, learn of the power of text in human culture and the power of words to bring about change among people across the world. We will take in the Library’s structure and the architectural philosophy behind it, have a look at the rotating exhibits, and view the works of art displayed throughout the building.
A Tour of Journeys
Get yourself a knapsack and a book, and come with us on a journey through pages of text and history! Come hear the story of the National Library of Israel’s 130-year journey, marvel at the rare books that have moved between continents, discover writings which made the rounds among Jewish communities, and trace the path ancient texts made before reaching us. This is a fascinating journey following in the wake of individuals, communities, and nations – and the written treasures they carried with them. Want to come along?
Green Building and Sustainability Tour
It may look white – but our building is green! In this unique tour, we’ll show how the National Library of Israel’s new residence received a platinum ranking (the highest possible ranking) for green building from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program. We’ll examine the building from all angles. Deep underground, we’ll witness the building’s “ecological air conditioner” and talk about sustainable development. In the reading hall, we’ll take in the sunlight and examine ways to deal with solar radiation. In the Library Garden, we’ll enjoy local flora and talk about saving water and energy. Sustainability like you’ve never seen before!
An Art and Architecture Tour
Come discover the architectural ideas behind the most beautiful structure in Jerusalem. The architects Herzog and de Meuron and Mann Shinar strove to construct a building representing the essence and values of the Library. Between grandeur and modesty, innovation and preservation of the past, stability and movement – the Library building maintains a dialogue between contrasts, inviting us all to listen. During the tour we will discover the ideas behind the structure, marvel at its design elements, and observe the art works set up within its walls.
Special Tour for Students and Scholars
Students? Researchers? Librarians? Come broaden your horizons at the leading research library in Israel!
During this professional, experiential tour, you will observe dozens of unique and rare items, while visiting the reading halls and discovering the Library collections that are relevant to your own field of knowledge. The visit can be combined with meetings with librarians, researchers, and content experts, who will share explanations about our unique work processes. For students, we recommend combining the tour with a bibliographic guidance explanation about the Library’s digital resources. We’ll be happy to equip you with a variety of means to locate quality, original materials which will help you in the academic world.