The National Library and Archives Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran (NLAI) enjoys the second most greatest campus in the Middle East. It is also the third largest in the world to be open for client 24/7.

IBNA: The campus of the library is resistant to magnitude-9 earthquakes. It keeps an impressive collection of historic manuscripts including Al-Ekhlas as the oldest manuscript.

Officially founded in 1937, NLAI began it duty to collect all the published works about Iran, Persian language and Islamology (especially Shiisim) in different languages and countries. It was also responsible for amassing a collection of important works and references in various fields of science, literature and classical texts in English and Arabic.

To that effect, the library became a beneficiary of the law of submission which made all publishers in the country to submit two copies of their works to the library for categorization.

Moreover, the library purchases foreign works by ordering books. There are two committees responsible for purchase affairs and evaluation of the purchased collections.

The current building of Iran’s national library is located in north central Tehran. It was constructed in 2003 by Iranian architects Mir Heidar and Yousof Shariatzadeh. The library’s main campus is a combination of traditional and modern architecture and resembles Fin Bath of Kashan and its east side looks like Ziggurat Castle. Covering an area of over 9,700 square meters, the library campus is resistant against earthquakes as strong as magnitude 9.

For its architecture, the library is the second greatest library in the Middle East.

It has 11 study halls arranged based on their applications for clients.

Most of the books kept at NLAI are books by prominent literati of Iran on literature, history, philosophy and mysticism, fiqh and principles, medicine and astrology, and works of calligraphy.

Furthermore, up to 13,000 audio books have been placed in the visually handicapped section of the library for the disabled. Besides, 600 books titles printed in Braille and 300 CDs are collected in the section.

Among various faculties of the library, there is this one this gathers foreign translations of books written originally in Persian. In this section, books can be scanned, with observing copyright law, and presented to users. Most of the items in the section are in English, French, German and Russian.

Id : 134541