National Library of Syria formerly Al-Assad National Library

History and Founding

The National Library of Syria is the national legal deposit and copyright library of Syria, located in Damascus overlooking the Umayyad Square. Syria's Ministry of Culture announced the decision to build a national library in 1976; construction began in 1978 and was completed in November 1983. The library opened on 16 November 1984. From its founding until 10 December 2024 — two days after the fall of the Assad regime — the library was named the Al-Assad National Library, after former president Hafez al-Assad. It was renamed the National Library of Syria following the political transition.

Collections and Holdings

The library serves as Syria's legal deposit institution, with a presidential decree from July 1983 requiring deposit of five copies of each work published by a Syrian author. Holdings include more than 40,000 titles, documents, and periodicals related to Syrian intellectual and cultural history. The nine-story complex houses three reading halls accommodating 1,000 readers, individual study spaces, a lecture hall with simultaneous interpretation for four languages for up to 308 participants, and departments for photographic documentation, audio materials, and resources for blind individuals. The Libraries and Documents Association of Syria has its headquarters at the library.

Notable Materials

The library's collections include rare books, manuscripts, and documents connected to Syria's cultural legacy. As of 2011, holdings included 100,000 items and 50,000 periodicals. The library has historically organized an annual book fair since 1985.

Access and Usage

As of the time of research, the library's official website was no longer active. The previous website is accessible via Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.