Literary activities, reading, multilingual libraries
Are you an avid or casual reader living in Luxembourg? Are you looking for books to escape into in your native language or to improve your reading skills in a foreign language? We’ve selected libraries and multicultural centers in Luxembourg for you. There, you’ll find books and magazines in many languages.
Libraries for browsing or borrowing books
BNL – National Library of Luxembourg
The National Library of Luxembourg welcomes the public in an ultra-modern building located on Avenue Kennedy in Kirchberg. The BNL is right next to the Bibliothèque Nationale tram stop.
Founded in 1899, the National Library of Luxembourg is a public library open to everyone.
Who can visit the BNL?
Anyone residing in the Grand Duchy or the Greater Region who is over 14 years of age can register for free at the BNL and borrow books. Borrowing books is very easy via an automated kiosk. Books can be returned 24 hours a day using a drop-off system outside the building.
Students at a higher education institution accredited by the Luxembourg government may also borrow books.
What books and publications can be found at the BNL?
The BNL offers more than 200,000 publications, as well as over 20,000 media items. Since its founding, the BNL has been the leading library for scientific works. It also houses all publications about Luxembourg, in both print and digital formats.
A true hub of cultural exchange, the BNL also organizes conferences and exhibitions on various topics.
Where is the BNL located, and what reading rooms does it have?
It features bright, spacious facilities conducive to reading.
Visitors have access to numerous reading rooms equipped with computers, scanners, and printers, as well as a media library. Access to the special collections and other rare works is available by prior appointment.
Free Wi-Fi. Dining area, café, and outdoor terrace.
Hours: Monday–Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Mobile Library: Bicherbus Service
Since 1982, a Bicherbus service, or mobile library, has served around a hundred towns and villages in Luxembourg once a week.
Cité-Bibliothèque of the City of Luxembourg
The Cité-Bibliothèque is the municipal library and media center of the City of Luxembourg. It is located on Rue Genistre in the Ville-Haute district.
Who can visit the Cité-Bibliothèque?
The Cité-Bibliothèque is open to the general public for reading and browsing books or media. Its goal is to promote culture and encourage reading among people of all ages.
Registration at the Cité-Bibliothèque is free for all residents of Luxembourg and neighboring countries. All you need to do is present a valid ID. Registration entitles you to borrow 4 books, 2 audio recordings for a period of 1 month, 2 DVDs for a period of 1 week, and 2 language learning materials for a period of 1 month, all free of charge.
The Cité Bibliothèque’s Sections
The Cité Bibliothèque features several sections, including:
- Luxembourgish, French, German, and English literature,
- a children’s section with books for children and teens, and children’s activities offered on Saturday mornings
- a study room with dictionaries and encyclopedias available, twelve workstations with free internet access and a printer (limited to 1 hour per day),
- a media library area with DVDs and Blu-rays in Luxembourgish, German, French, and English, as well as audiobooks and language learning materials. Movies can be viewed on-site.
Literary Tuesdays at the Cité Bibliothèque
"Literary Tuesdays" feature readings and presentations of authors’ works. By pre-registering, visitors can meet their favorite writers and chat with them.
Home Book Delivery Service
Senior citizens in the city of Luxembourg can take advantage of a home book delivery service. No need to go anywhere to borrow books, e-books, or videos! Simply request this service and have the materials delivered right to your door.
Library of the City’s Two Museums
Since 1996, this library has been open by appointment only to researchers, students, and museum staff.
The Library of the 2 Museums houses a collection of 6,000 books on art and history. This library also holds a collection of rare works, including the first book on the history of Luxembourg written by Jean Bertels, *Historia de principibus Luxemurgensibus*.
Books may be consulted via the a-z.lu computer network by prior appointment with the documentation department.
Address: 15, rue du Saint-Esprit L-1475 Luxembourg.
Music Conservatory Library
Founded in 1906, the Music Conservatory Library contains over 28,000 volumes.
It includes works on theater, musical instruments, the history of music, as well as the philosophy of music and music therapy.
The library is located on Rue Charles Martel in Luxembourg.
Municipal Libraries
Luxembourg municipalities also have local libraries. These offer books for children and adults to their residents.
Check with your municipality for information on municipal libraries.
Multilingual Cultural Centers in Luxembourg
Thanks to its multicultural character, Luxembourg offers a wide variety of cultural centers where you can also meet people from the local community.
CID Fraen an Gender for Diversity and Inclusion
CID Fraen an Gender specializes in diversity and inclusion in all its forms. Its goal is to combat all forms of discrimination. You can also find books addressing racism there.
Located at 14 Rue Beck in Luxembourg, the CID offers a wide range of educational materials on LGBTQ+ issues and feminist topics. Notable works include Simone de Beauvoir’s *The Second Sex* and Mona Chollet’s *Reinventing Love *.
By prior appointment, you can consult historical works from the Women’s Liberation Movement in Luxembourg.
Visit the CID Fraen an Gender at the Lux Film Festival
CITIM Third World Training Center
Here you’ll find books about the world, particularly focusing on countries and authors from the Global South, to help you better understand the world and its diversity. CITIM is located on Rue Adolphe Fischer in Luxembourg, in the Gare district.
Luxembourg Center for Architecture
LUCA is located on Rue de la Tour Jacob in Luxembourg. It offers over 8,000 books on the built environment and architecture.
Visitors can consult monographs on Le Corbusier, as well as books on the history of architecture and design. The Luxemburgensia section features studies by local architects.
Circulo culturale e recreativo Eugenio Curiel ASBL
Located at 107 Route d’Esch in Luxembourg, the library houses over 8,000 volumes, primarily in Italian, but also in Portuguese, Spanish, and Luxembourgish. These books cover various topics, including current events and politics.
Circulo Cultural Antonio Machado ASBL
The Circulo Cultural Espagnol Antonio Machado offers a wide range of activities aimed at promoting Spanish culture in Luxembourg. It features a library of books and a media center dedicated to Spanish media.
The Antonio Machado Cultural Center is located at 72 Grand-Rue, 1660 Ville-Haute, Luxembourg
See also cultural centers in Luxembourg
Search, browse, and reserve books online at bibnet.lu
Several libraries in Luxembourg are affiliated with the bibnet.lu network, coordinated by the National Library of Luxembourg. You can search for, view, or reserve materials on the a-z.lu website.
This gives you access to the catalog of works held by the various libraries, cultural centers, schools, universities, and private or public libraries belonging to this network.
Reading and Culture Workshops for Children
Introduce your children to literature and the joy of reading by taking them to libraries and reading workshops from a young age.
Children Discovering the World at CITIM
Every first Saturday of the month, CITIM (Third World Information Center) reads a story to children about a Third World country and its people. Your children can thus discover the world through the theme “Children Discovering the World.” Admission is free, but it’s best to reserve in advance. The program is posted one week in advance on the CITIM website.
Mother-tongue reading workshops with the “Il était une fois” association
Committed to promoting the integration of foreigners in Luxembourg, the association “Il était une fois” helps immigrant children maintain contact with their native language. To this end, different cultures and languages are highlighted during the activities offered by the non-profit organization, particularly during the reading workshops. More information is available at www.iletaitunefois.lu
“Tell Me Again…” a story
Since 2007, “Raconte-moi encore…” has been offering story readings in Luxembourg. Sylvie Beythan-Orydonne brings her characters to life and captivates her audience through the use of musical instruments, dolls, and puppets. A specially designed set adds even more magic. Through games and crafts, she engages children in bringing her stories to life. The themes are varied, ranging from seasonal stories to those set in specific worlds. For more information, visit www.racontemoi.lu.
Also check out the reading workshop at the Cité-Bibliothèque municipale de Luxembourg, every Saturday morning from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Festivals and reading events
Comic Book Festival
For over 30 years, the village of Contern has hosted the International Comic Book Festival every third weekend in July. Discover over a hundred booths and meet some fifty authors.
D’Stad liest
This summer activity features an open-air library in the streets of Luxembourg City. It’s a chance to attend outdoor readings or read in a relaxed atmosphere.
Find all the summer events here.
Used books: read sustainably and recycle your books
Book cabinets or “Bicherschaf”
Book cabinets are accessible to everyone—adults and children—24/7, free of charge and without registration. These book boxes are becoming increasingly common in Luxembourg. Some municipalities repurpose old phone booths into self-service book drop-off points.
Interested individuals can borrow one or more books to read on-site or at home. The goal is to return them to the cabinet after reading. Readers may also keep the books they’ve chosen and replace them with others.
You’ll find these book cabinets in many municipalities, including Luxembourg:
- Place de Gand – Luxembourg-Belair
- Place du Théâtre – Luxembourg-Centre
- Place Laurent – Luxembourg-Limpertsberg
- Place Quartier Stuff – Luxembourg-Kirchberg
- Rue Léon Kauffman – Luxembourg City
Book Recycling
Recycling centers also offer recycling corners where people can drop off unwanted items and make them available to other residents. You’ll find books for adults and children, toys, and more. Everyone is welcome to take what they need.
Feel free to drop off books you no longer read, such as textbooks, novels, and more.
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