The National Library of Iran, Past and Present

Abstract

This article deals with the history and activities of the National Library of Iran, was officially inaugurated in 1937 but whose collection dates back 150 years. It contains large numbers of manuscripts, old printed books, old itineraries from European tourists, documents, rare periodicals and materials in non-print forms. It has grown gradually through donations, exchanges, acquisition, and legal deposit. The library is an educational, research, and service institution, aiming to acquire, organize and disseminate information published or produced in Iran or in the fields of Iranology and Islamic study in other countries, to promote research and planning in library and information science, and to provide consultation and devise appropriate methods for all Iranian libraries. A new building, with an area of 97,000 square metres, is due to be inaugurated in 2003.