University of Tehran Central Library & Documentation Center

Overview

The Central Library and Documentation Center of the University of Tehran is the largest academic library in Iran and one of the most significant research libraries in the Middle East. It supports the research and educational activities of the University of Tehran — Iran's oldest and most prominent university — and serves as a major repository of Persian manuscripts, rare books, and scholarly resources.

History

The University of Tehran was officially inaugurated in 1934, and the Central Library developed alongside the institution. The current library building was designed by Iranian architect Bahman Paknia and constructed between 1964 and 1971, covering approximately 18,600 square meters. Since 1967, the library has been a member of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). It complements 35 specialized faculty libraries across the university.

Collections and Holdings

The library's holdings exceed one million items including books, periodicals, manuscripts, microfilms, pictorial copies, historical documents, photographs, lithography books, academic dissertations, scientific documents, and maps. The collection includes over 120,000 volumes in English, French, German, Russian, Italian, and other languages. The manuscript collection alone comprises over 17,000 volumes in Persian, Arabic, and Turkish, including notable works such as the Khamsa of Nizami, the Shahnameh, and the Vendidad. The library operates a specialized Conservation and Restoration Department with a Renovation Workshop and Bindery. It hosts more than 5,000 users daily and has over 65,000 registered members. The University of Tehran Press, also associated with the library system, has published over 5,000 academic books.

Access

The library is accessible to university staff, students, and registered external researchers on the University of Tehran's main campus. The website is available at https://library.ut.ac.ir/en.