Libraries and Reading in Luxembourg: Books, Media Centers, and Cultural Spaces

Luxembourg offers a particularly welcoming environment for book lovers. Thanks to a network of modern libraries, media centers, cultural centers, and specialized reference libraries, it is easy to borrow books, read them on site, access digital resources, or participate in cultural events.

In a country where nearly half the population is foreign-born, libraries also play a vital role in the integration of newcomers. They offer collections in multiple languages, language-learning resources, workspaces, lectures, author meet-and-greets, and numerous activities open to everyone.

Whether you’re a literature enthusiast, a student, a parent looking to instill a love of reading in your children, or simply searching for a quiet place to work, you’ll find facilities in Luxembourg tailored to your needs.

Why visit a library in Luxembourg?

Luxembourg’s libraries are no longer just places to borrow books. They have become true hubs of cultural life, learning, and community.

Most now offer:

• bright and comfortable reading areas;
• individual or collaborative study rooms;
• free Wi-Fi;
• computer stations, scanners, and printers;
• e-books and online resources;
• lectures, exhibitions, and author meet-and-greets;
• activities for children and families.

For expats, these places also serve as an excellent gateway to Luxembourgish culture and offer the opportunity to continue reading in their native language while discovering local literature.

Reading in Your Native Language in Luxembourg

One of Luxembourg’s greatest strengths lies in its international outlook. The major libraries have extensive collections in multiple languages to meet the needs of a multicultural population.

In particular, you can find books in:

• French;
• English;
• German;
• Luxembourgish;
• Portuguese;
• Italian;
• Spanish;
• as well as in many other languages, depending on the store.

The sections dedicated to language learning materials, audiobooks, international magazines, and digital resources also allow you to learn or improve your foreign language skills.

Luxembourg’s Major Public Libraries

The Grand Duchy has several leading libraries that cater to different needs: academic research, leisure reading, work, consulting archives, or family activities.

Library	Ideal for...
National Library of Luxembourg (BNL)	Research, reference materials, literature, work, digital resources.
Cité Bibliothèque	Novels, children’s books, DVDs, audiobooks, language learning materials.
Bicherbus	Borrow books in the municipalities served.
Community Libraries	Community reading programs, local events, and children’s literature.

The National Library of Luxembourg (BNL)

Housed since 2019 in a modern building on the Kirchberg plateau, the National Library of Luxembourg (BNL) is the country’s largest library. It is easily accessible by tram, with a stop named after it.

Founded in 1899, the BNL’s mission is to preserve Luxembourg’s documentary heritage while providing the public with access to an exceptionally rich collection. Today, it serves as a key resource for researchers, students, professionals, and casual readers alike.

Who can borrow books from the BNL?

The library is open to anyone aged 14 or older who resides in Luxembourg or the Greater Region. Registration is free and allows users to easily borrow books using self-service kiosks.

Students enrolled in a higher education institution recognized by the Luxembourg government are also eligible to use the lending services.

Exceptional Collections

The BNL offers more than 200,000 publications available for open access, as well as more than 20,000 multimedia items. It also holds the complete collection of publications about Luxembourg, whether in print or digital format.

Its collections include, in particular:

• the humanities;
• literature;
• the sciences;
• economics;
• law;
• history;
• publications about Luxembourg;
• digital resources.

The library regularly organizes lectures, exhibitions, gatherings, and cultural events, making it a vibrant hub open to everyone.

A space designed for work and reading

Visitors have access to numerous reading rooms, individual and collaborative workspaces, a media library, computers, scanners, printers, free Wi-Fi, and a café with a terrace.

Books can be returned 24 hours a day via an automated system located outside the building, which greatly simplifies the borrowing process.

The Bicherbus: The Mobile Library

For more than forty years, the Bicherbus has provided residents of communities that do not always have a large library with easy access to reading materials.

This mobile library serves about a hundred towns and villages across the Grand Duchy every week. Readers can borrow or return books just as easily as they would at a traditional library.

This service is an excellent example of Luxembourg’s commitment to making culture accessible throughout its territory.

The Lëtzebuerg City Library in Luxembourg

Located on Rue Genistre, in the heart of the Upper Town, the Cité Bibliothèque is the municipal library of the City of Luxembourg. Highly appreciated by residents, it offers a collection particularly suited to leisure reading and families.

Its central location makes it a particularly popular destination for residents, students, downtown workers, and families.

A Collection for All Readers

The Cité Bibliothèque offers tens of thousands of items covering a wide variety of subjects:

• novels and contemporary literature;
• comic books and manga;
• children’s books;
• nonfiction;
• practical guides;
• language learning materials;
• audiobooks;
• DVDs and other multimedia formats.

The collections are regularly expanded to meet the needs of an international audience. The works are available in several languages, including French, English, German, and Luxembourgish.

A vibrant place all year round

In addition to lending books, the Cité Bibliothèque regularly organizes:

• meetings with authors;
• lectures;
• exhibitions;
• public readings;
• workshops for children;
• activities during school breaks.

These events help make the library a true hub of cultural life, fostering interaction among readers of all ages.

Local Libraries

In addition to the National Library and the Cité Bibliothèque, many municipalities have their own libraries. These local libraries play an essential role in promoting reading and often offer cultural programs tailored to residents.

There you will generally find:

• novels for adults;
• a large selection of children’s and young adult literature;
• comic books;
• nonfiction books;
• reading areas;
• regular events.

Municipal libraries frequently collaborate with schools, after-school care centers, and local organizations to promote reading among children and teenagers.

Specialized Libraries

Luxembourg also has numerous specialized libraries, each accessible based on its specific focus or target audience. They are a valuable resource for students, researchers, and professionals, as well as for anyone wishing to delve deeper into a particular field.

Luxembourg Center for Architecture (LUCA) Library

The Luxembourg Center for Architecture (LUCA) offers a library specializing in architecture, urban planning, design, and built heritage. It serves as a resource for students, architects, and urban planners, as well as anyone interested in urban development and architectural quality.

Library of the Luxembourg City Conservatory

The Luxembourg City Conservatory boasts a particularly extensive music library. Sheet music, specialized books, composer biographies, instrumental method books, and audio recordings are available for consultation by students as well as music enthusiasts.

This library naturally complements our guide to music and dance in Luxembourg.

CID Fraen an Gender

CID Fraen an Gender is a recognized documentation center dedicated to issues of equality, gender, women’s history, and feminism. Its library houses several thousand books, journals, and documentary resources accessible to the public.

It serves as a leading resource in Luxembourg for researchers, teachers, students, and readers wishing to explore these topics in greater depth.

CITIM – Third World Information Center

CITIM offers an extensive collection of resources on international solidarity, sustainable development, human rights, migration, and North-South relations.

In addition to its library, the center regularly organizes conferences, debates, and exhibitions open to the public.

Antonio Machado Library

The Antonio Machado Library helps promote Hispanic culture in Luxembourg. It offers a wide selection of books in Spanish, as well as literary gatherings, conferences, and cultural activities for both Spanish speakers and those learning the language.

Curiel Library

The Curiel Library, run by the Circolo Curiel, showcases Italian literature and promotes cultural exchanges between Luxembourg and Italy. Novels, essays, historical works, and children’s literature make it easy for Italian-speaking readers to find books in their language.

Search for a Book Anywhere in Luxembourg

There’s no need to search each library’s catalog separately. Several tools are now available to quickly locate a book and check its availability.

a-z.lu: the national library search portal

The a-z.lu portal allows you to search the collections of numerous Luxembourg libraries simultaneously. With just a few clicks, you can identify the institution that holds the book you’re looking for, check its availability, and access numerous digital resources.

The bibnet.lu network

The bibnet.lu network brings together a large number of public libraries across the country. It makes it easy to browse catalogs, conduct bibliographic searches, and—depending on the library—reserve or renew loans online.

Thanks to these tools, it’s very easy to find a book, no matter which library holds it.

In the final section of this guide, we’ll explore the many literary activities organized in Luxembourg, workshops for all ages, book boxes, and initiatives that promote reading.

Reading-Related Activities in Luxembourg

Reading plays an important role in Luxembourg’s cultural life. Libraries, bookstores, associations, municipalities, and institutions offer events throughout the year for audiences of all ages. Meet-and-greets with authors, story hours, writing workshops, literary festivals, and book clubs offer a friendly and interactive way to discover literature.

For expats, these activities also provide an excellent opportunity to practice a language, meet other enthusiasts, and discover Luxembourgish culture in a welcoming setting.

Storytime and Activities for Children

Most public libraries regularly organize reading sessions for young children. These events encourage an early love of reading while fostering curiosity, imagination, and a taste for stories.

The workshops are often offered in several languages, reflecting Luxembourg’s multicultural character. They also allow expatriate children to maintain a connection with their native language or gradually discover the country’s languages.

Families will also find plenty of activity ideas in our guide to outings with children in Luxembourg.

“Once Upon a Time…”

Among the most popular events is the “Once Upon a Time…” program, which invites young children to discover stories told by librarians or storytellers. These sessions often provide a child’s first introduction to the world of books in a warm and playful atmosphere.

“Tell Me Again”

The “Tell Me Again” sessions feature interactive readings tailored to different age groups. They are often complemented by creative workshops, games, or arts-and-crafts activities that allow children to further explore the worlds of the stories they’ve discovered.

Literary Festivals and Events

Throughout the year, several events celebrate books and literature. They bring together authors, illustrators, publishers, booksellers, and readers with a shared goal: to promote the joy of reading.

The Contern International Comic Book Festival

Held for over thirty years, the Contern International Comic Book Festival has become a must-attend event for fans of the “ninth art.” Authors, artists, and publishers gather there for book signings, exhibitions, and public meet-and-greets.

Every year, the festival attracts visitors from across the Greater Region and contributes significantly to Luxembourg’s cultural influence.

D'Stad liest

The D'Stad liest (“The City Reads”) event transforms several public spaces in Luxembourg City into temporary reading spots every summer. Open-air libraries, public readings, author meet-and-greets, and family-friendly activities invite residents to rediscover the joy of reading in a welcoming setting.

This initiative perfectly illustrates the commitment to making culture accessible to everyone, beyond traditional venues.

Meet-and-greets with authors

Libraries, cultural centers, and bookstores regularly organize lectures, debates, and book-signing events featuring Luxembourgish and international authors. These events offer the chance to interact directly with the authors and gain a deeper appreciation of their works.

Bookcases: Sharing the Joy of Reading

Book cabinets have become widespread in Luxembourg. Located in neighborhoods, parks, or near certain public buildings, they operate on a simple principle: anyone can leave a book they wish to share and take another one for free.

This initiative promotes the circular economy, encourages exchanges among residents, and gives books a second life.

Where to Buy Books in Luxembourg?

In addition to libraries, Luxembourg has many independent and general-interest bookstores offering books in several languages. You’ll find everything from the latest releases to specialized books, children’s literature, comic books, and practical guides.

Book fairs, certain organizations, and occasional book markets also offer opportunities to purchase used books at attractive prices.

Reading to Better Integrate into Luxembourg

Reading is an excellent way to discover Luxembourgish society, its history, traditions, and cultural diversity. Libraries offer a wide range of books about the Grand Duchy, as well as resources for learning Luxembourgish, French, or German.

Joining a book club, attending an author event, or visiting a library regularly also helps you build your social network and share common interests with other residents.

If you’d like to build more connections as you settle in, be sure to check out our guide to socializing and community life in Luxembourg.

For further reading and leisure activities

• Museums and Cultural Centers in Luxembourg
• Movies, theater, and opera in Luxembourg
• Outings, activities, and leisure in Luxembourg
• Events calendar in Luxembourg

FAQ: Libraries and Reading in Luxembourg