For book lovers, libraries are not just places where books are preserved, but also spaces for exploration, learning, and inspiration. In addition to their rich collections, archives, and information resources, libraries can also distinguish themselves with their architectural design details. In Turkey, numerous private and publicly accessible libraries offer visitors a nostalgic atmosphere with their historical structures or capture attention with modern designs. Each of these libraries tells its own story and invites book lovers on a journey of knowledge and aesthetic appreciation. In this article, we explore libraries in Turkey renowned for their extensive collection archives, catering to both book lovers and researchers, while also capturing attention with their architectural designs.

Atatürk Library

The Atatürk Library, constructed by architect Sedat Hakkı Eldem, stands as one of the first libraries of the Republic Era. It boasts a collection of over 500,000 works, including Ottoman printed books, periodicals, manuscripts, rare works in various languages, maps, postcards, annuals, calendars, personal archives, and special collections. The Atatürk Library, with its extensive archive, serves as a primary resource for researchers and also stands out in cultural and artistic life through events such as exhibitions and talks. This library, located in Taksim and operated by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Directorate of Library and Museums, is open for free visits every day from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM. To explore the library’s collection and archived works, you can click here.

Source: Istanbul Research Institute

Istanbul Research Institute

The Istanbul Research Institute operates within a historic building constructed in the late 19th century by architect Guglielmo Semprini in Tepebaşı and later renovated by architect Sinan Genim. The Institute represents the second phase of a comprehensive culture and arts project initiated with the establishment of the Pera Museum in 2005 by the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation, which has been active in the fields of culture, arts, and education since 2003. The institute, which offers a wide range of resources through its public library and Information-Document Center, covering fields such as “Atatürk and Republic Studies,” “Ottoman Studies,” and “Byzantine Studies,” serves as a comprehensive resource for academics, researchers, students, and enthusiasts. The archive includes approximately 18,000 photographs comprising the “Atatürk and Republic Photographs Collection” and the “Old Istanbul Photographs Collection,” along with various engravings and maps, 130 sheets of Jacques Pervititch insurance maps, 31 sheets of Suat Nirven insurance maps, 1,083 musical notation sheets by Cüneyd Orhon, and approximately 10,000 newspaper clippings related to the history and architecture of Istanbul. In addition to serving as a significant resource center for anyone wishing to conduct research on topics related to Istanbul, the Istanbul Research Institute keeps the interest in the city’s cultural heritage and history alive.

The Istanbul Research Institute Library is open for visits from Monday to Friday, between 10:00 AM and 5:30 PM. For more information about the institute and its library, click here.

Source: Istanbul Modern

Istanbul Modern

Istanbul Modern’s library, situated within the new museum building designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, founded by Renzo Piano, offers a comprehensive collection of essential resources in fields such as museum studies and contemporary art history, as well as exhibition catalogs, periodicals, and artist monographs that are updated in parallel with ongoing exhibitions and programs. The library houses 12,500 books and 8,000 periodicals covering art, architecture, photography, cinema, and museum studies. Additionally, materials related to cinema events and exhibitions held at Istanbul Modern Cinema are available to users as DVDs and CDs through the library collection.

To access Istanbul Modern’s library collection, click here. The library, located on the ground floor of the museum, is open to visitors free of charge every day from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, except for Mondays.

Photo: Selman Urluca

IPA Istanbul Library

The IPA Istanbul Library (Istanbul Urban Studies Library), which aims to build a comprehensive collection primarily focused on Istanbul, as well as cities in Turkey and around the world, contains over 20,000 printed books, mostly covering urban studies, architecture, urban planning, and related specialized fields. The IPA Istanbul Library, established as a “specialized library” at the Özlem Türeci - Uğur Şahin IPA Campus, contains both printed and digitally published resources about Istanbul.

You can become a member and make a reservation on the IMM Libraries website to visit the IPA Istanbul Library, which is open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM on weekdays and Saturdays, and to access its digital collection.

Photos: Okan Ulusoy

Moda İskele Library

Moda Pier, constructed by architect Vedat Tek in the neoclassical style in 1916-1917, holds the distinction of being one of the oldest piers in Istanbul. After restoration work by Novos Architecture Studio, the historical Moda Pier, an iconic structure in Kadıköy, was reintroduced to citizens as a book, café, and performance area. The new library, situated within Moda Pier, offers its services in a 250-square-meter area with a capacity for 87 people, featuring open-air study areas, a terrace, and a rich selection of books. The library section of the historic pier includes a wide range of genres and works, including history, political science, philosophy, research, art, informatics, technology, science, religion, personal development, cultural heritage, architecture, design, and children’s books.

You can add Moda İskele Library, open 24/7, to your must-see list.

Source: Rami Library

Rami Library

After restoration works in line with its original structure, the over 250-year-old Rami Barracks now welcome book lovers and researchers under the name of Rami Library. Rami Library, with its contemporary approach to librarianship, offers a library experience to visitors of all ages with the concept called “vivid library.” Contemplated as a large campus, Rami Library is situated in a 51,000 square meter landscape area and a 36,000 square meter indoor space with a seating capacity of 4,200 people. The library features opportunities such as individual and group reading rooms, event areas, workshop areas, a center for disabled individuals, discussions, seminars, and exhibitions.

With various printed and manuscript collections catering to different interests, Rami Library welcomes readers and researchers of all ages at any time of the day. For more information about the library, click here.

Photo: Ekin Özbiçer, 2018

Salt Research

Salt Research, a specialized library primarily focusing on culture, art, architecture, history, and social sciences, makes its archive, consisting of physical and digital documents and resources, accessible for various research topics. The Salt Research collections predominantly focus on providing various resources on topics such as social memory, urban history, preservation of cultural heritage, digital archiving, art history, and contemporary art, with a special emphasis on Istanbul, as well as Turkey, the Southeastern Mediterranean region, and Southeastern Europe.

You can access all the digitized works, visual documents, and resources of Salt Research by clicking here. You can also examine, free of charge, the publications consisting of books and magazines at the Salt Research facility in Salt Galata on Tuesday to Saturday, between 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM.

Source: Vitali Hakko Creative Industries Library

Vitali Hakko Creative Industries Library

Vitali Hakko Creative Industries Library stands out as both the first library established by a fashion brand and the first private library in Turkey with a comprehensive collection focusing on creative arts. The library contains numerous resources covering various branches of art such as fashion, architecture, painting, cinema, music, photography, and sculpture. Established within the Vakko Nakkaştepe Fashion Center, which has been awarded for its architecture, the Vitali Hakko Creative Industries Library celebrates its 10th anniversary and now welcomes visitors at its new location, the Atatürk Cultural Center.

Vitali Hakko Creative Industries Library can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM. The library catalog, which includes special editions from prestigious publishers and publications signed exclusively for the library, can be accessed by clicking here.