National Library of Albania Biblioteka Kombëtare e Shqipërisë

History and Founding

The National Library of Albania (Albanian: Biblioteka Kombëtare e Shqipërisë, NLA) is Albania's primary national cultural institution and the oldest institution of the Albanian state. It was founded on 10 July 1920, growing out of the library of the Literary Commission (Komisia Letrare Shqipe), and was officially inaugurated on 10 December 1922. At the time of its inauguration, the collection comprised approximately 6,000 volumes, initially housed in the Ministry of Education in Tirana.

Through the 1930s, the collection was systematised and catalogued for the first time. By the end of World War II the library had grown to some 15,000 volumes. Between 1917 and 1995, holdings expanded from 3,000 to nearly one million items. Today the NLA occupies two buildings in central Tirana and functions under the authority of the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation.

Collections and Holdings

The NLA holds close to one million volumes and is enriched through legal deposit (five copies of every Albanian publication), donations, purchases, and international exchanges. Its collections of Albanological materials — covering the history, linguistics, ethnography, and folklore of Albania — are considered among the richest in the world. Special collections include rare manuscripts, early printed books, maps, and periodicals. Within the library operate the National ISBN Agency (established 1997), the National School of Library Science (established 1969), the Centre for the Restoration of Rare Collections, and the Sotir Kolea cultural-activities centre (established 2023).

Journalism and Media Materials

The NLA is the legal deposit library for all Albanian periodicals and newspapers, and its hemeroteca houses an extensive archive of Albanian-language press from the early twentieth century to the present day. These holdings are a key resource for researchers studying the history of Albanian journalism and print media.

Access and Usage

The library is open to the public Monday through Friday from 08:00 to 19:30 and Saturday from 09:00 to 14:00 (hours subject to change; verify with the institution). It is located on Skanderbeg Square in the centre of Tirana. The NLA also organises national library education and continuing professional development, and serves as the country's centre for cataloguing in publications.