SANA Iran Periodicals System / سامانه نشریات ایران (National Library and Archives of Iran)

Overview

SANA (سامانه نشریات ایران — Iran Periodicals System) is an online database and digital archive managed by the National Library and Archives of Iran (NLAI). It provides public access to digitized Iranian periodicals, newspapers, and journals from the Qajar era—when newspaper publishing began in Iran—to the present day. SANA represents one of the most significant digitization efforts for Persian-language journalism and print media history.

Institutional Background

The National Library and Archives of Iran (NLAI), located in Tehran, is Iran's central institution for collecting, preserving, and disseminating the nation's printed publications, manuscripts, periodicals, and historical archives. The National Library was originally established in 1937 and merged with the National Archives in 2002 to form the current unified NLAI. It is the largest library in the Middle East, with more than fifteen million items in its collections, including over 2,500 modern magazines and newspapers. SANA is identified in research on the NLAI's information systems as the Iranian Newspaper System, a core digital service of the institution.

Collections and Scope

SANA organizes its resources chronologically into four main periods of Iranian publishing history: the Qajar era (approximately 1779–1925); the First Pahlavi era (1925–1941); the Second Pahlavi era (1941–1979); and the post-Revolution period (1979 to the present). Within each era, periodicals are listed alphabetically, and available publications are accompanied by historical descriptions. The database includes full-text digitized periodicals and newspapers on topics including Iranian historical, social, political, and economic affairs; Persian literature; Islamic subjects; and local publications from Tehran, Isfahan, and other cities. A small number of periodicals in German, English, and French are also included, with some materials dating to 1906.

Access and Usage

SANA is accessible online at sana.nlai.ir. Free registration is required to access full-text resources. The platform was made publicly available to promote equal access to information and to facilitate scholarly research into Iranian print media history without requiring physical access to the Tehran library.