The Black Diamond, Copenhagen

In the buildings of Royal Danish Library on Slotsholmen, you can enjoy exhibitions and concerts, use the reading rooms and visit the cafe, all while enjoying the view of the harbour.

The Black Diamond, Copenhagen. Evening picture over the canal

Photo: Laura Stamer

Read about:

  1. The Student Reading Room
  2. The Old Reading Room
  3. Little Reading Room
  4. Research Reading Room
  5. Central Administrative Reading Room
  6. Open Study Area

Regulations for public areas at Royal Danish Library

1. The Student Reading Room

The Student Reading Room is found on your right hand when going up the moving walkway in the atrium of the library. The reading room is open to everyone who needs a place to read.

Talking is not allowed in the reading room.


2. The Old Reading Room

You can find the Old Reading Room by continuing straight ahead from the moving walkway and turning right by the octagonal display case at the end of the hall. The reading room is open to everyone who needs a place to read.

Talking is not allowed in the reading room.


3. Little Reading Room

You will find the reading room on the 5th floor. Take the moving walkway from the atrium and take the stairs on your left or take the lift up.

In the reading room you will find select handbooks relating to manuscripts and book history as well as the handbooks of the Danish Folklore Archives. The study places are open to anyone who needs a place to study.

Little Reading Room is for you who want to study in surroundings without snacks and food. You are welcome to bring water and hot drinks with a lid. Muffled speech is permitted in the reading room.


4. Research Reading Room

The Research Reading room is found on your left hand when going up the moving walkway in the atrium of the library. The reading room is generally for non-circulatory material - that is, material that may only be viewed in a reading room. In the reading room, you can also find a collection of reference books.

Food, drinks, bags, and jackets are not allowed in the reading room. You may bring your own laptop if you take it out of the sleeve. Bags and jackets can be put in lockers.

Talking is not allowed in the reading room.

Regulations for the Research Reading Room

ID-card for Research Reading Room


5. Central Administrative Reading Room

You will find the entrance to the reading room on the 4th floor. Take the lift or use the moving walkway from the atrium, or the stairs by the Kirkeby bridge.

The reading room is home to Central Administrative collection, which provides services for ministries, government agencies and departments, but the reading room is open to everyone.

Conversations are allowed.


6. Open Study Area

You can find the open study area by continuing straight ahead from the moving walkway and crossing the Kirkeby bridge. You can work in groups here.

Conversation is allowed in the open study area but please show consideration.

Read about:

  1. Wi-fi
  2. Computers for general use
  3. Cloakroom and lockers
  4. Toilets
  5. Parking
  6. Public transport
  7. Shop
  8. Accessibility information

Regulations for public areas at Royal Danish Library


1. Wi-fi

The wireless network is accessible to all users of the library and covers the entire library. To gain access to the network, you need to log on to 'eduroam' or 'KB-Guest' - the latter requires that you accept the conditions for use. 

Internet connectivity requires that you are from an institution that is part of the Eduroam collaboration. Contact your own institution to get information on how to access Eduroam.


2. Computers for general use

We have prioritised making room for you and your laptop in our study areas, but there is a small number of computers available for general use in the public areas on the 2nd floor. The computers require a password and may be used according to a first-come, first-served policy.


3. Cloakroom and lockers

Lockers are found on the ground floor and on the 1st and 4th floors. The lockers are operated via a four digit pin code of your own choice. If your bag or suitcase is too big for the lockers, we have extra large ones. Talk to the staff at The Black Diamond Information services and they will help you.

You will find the cloakroom to the left of the main entrance, right by the toilets.

Students can reserve and borrow a locker. Students writing their thesis can borrow the locker for up to six months. Other students can borrow the lockers for two months at a time. Contact The Black Diamond Information services to hear more.


4. Toilets

Toilets are found on the ground floor on each side of the atrium. In addition, there is a small toilet located on the second floor (same floor as the three large reading rooms).


5. Parking

Unfortunately, we do not have parking facilities for guests.

We refer to the public parking spaces at:

  • Slotsholmsgade
  • Frederiksholms channel
  • BLOX parking with 350 parking spaces, which has easy access from Vester Voldgade.


Disability parking

Motorists with a disability parking permits can park at Søren Kierkegaards Plads in connection with a visit to To Black Diamond. The site has six disabled parking spaces. These cannot be reserved.


6. Public transport

  • Bus line 26 stops at Søren Kierkegaards Plads.
  • S-train to Central Station, 15 minutes on foot or bus line 26.
  • Metro to Gammel Strand st. or Christianshavn st., 10-12 minutes on foot.
  • Harbour bus 901, 902.

Cab

The shop staff can order a taxi for you. It usually takes five minutes for it to arrive.  


7. Shop

In The Black Diamond shop, you can get answers to your questions, become acquainted with the library services, pick up and return borrowed material, purchase unique products, and get help finding exciting cultural experiences. You can find us just inside the revolving doors by the main entrance.

Besides common office supplies and books, the shop also offers unique products with quotes and motifs from the collections, such as tote bags, notebooks, and fridge magnets.

It is also possible to buy select products, books and posters in our webshop.


8. Accessibility information

Disabled visitors can choose to bring a companion to events, exhibitions, and concerts free of cost. Please inform us if you are bringing a companion when ordering tickets. At events, there will always be a member of staff present to help you and your companion down the hall.

If you are a wheelchair user and need to use one of our meeting rooms, or if you are taking a tour, please call and make arrangements via telephone +45 9132 4880, 3 weekdays prior at the latest.

Permanent events at The Black Diamond

Reading room with classic green reading room lamps, Royal Danish Library

Guided tours

We offer guided tours in The Black Diamond, Copenhagen and on Victor Albecks Vej, Aarhus (the Book Tower). Experience the buildings and atmosphere and hear stories about architecture and collections.

Photographer Peter Elfelt takes a self-portrait in a mirror.
Permanent
Exhibition

The Camera and Us

Permanent exhibition of photographs from Royal Danish Library's collections 1845-2021.

The Black Diamond, Copenhagen 

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