National Library of Australia

The National Library of Australia in Canberra, formally created by legislation in 1960, grew out of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Library, established in 1901. It was founded by Emperor Maximilian I in 1493 and has rich collections — notably of manuscripts from the Austrian monasteries and from the library of Matthias I Corvinus, dispersed after the capture of his capital, Buda, by the Turks in 1526.  On the shores of Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin, the National Library of Australia is beautiful and unexpected.  Following the successful partial reopening of the National Library, there has been an increase in the reading room services and opening hours.  It also features a café upstairs which has a balcony, with views of Canberra and the lake in front of the library.