İzmir National Library

İzmir National Library is an institution in Türkiye that was established through private initiative and has held the title of “national” since 1912, contributing significantly to the country’s scientific and cultural life. Its establishment process, which began during the Second Constitutional Era, took shape despite challenging historical conditions. Its building, designed in the Neo-Classical Turkish architectural style, along with its collection and historical legacy, is an integral part of İzmir’s cultural heritage.

İzmir National Library (İzmir National Library)

History

Foundation and the Second Constitutional Era

Although İzmir was a city with a Turkish and Muslim majority during the Ottoman period, the influence of minority communities—Levantines, Greeks, Armenians, and Jews—was prominent in trade, culture, and the arts during the 18th and 19th centuries. Turkish and Muslim communities had limited access to library services, confined mainly to mosque-based waqf libraries and a small number of reading rooms, while minority communities maintained more advanced libraries. According to the Aydın Vilayet yearbooks, in 1878 the Müftü Mosque Library held approximately 4,000 rare volumes, whereas the libraries of Greek and French schools contained collections of 10,000 to 15,000 volumes. ^【1】 

The idea of establishing a library suited to the needs of the era emerged in 1897 with the initiative of Giritli Ali Refet Efendi, who founded the Ottoman Library. This library, established to educate and raise awareness among Turkish children, closed after the proclamation of the Second Constitutional Era, and its books were transferred to the National Library.

In 1911, under the leadership of Kadızade İbrahim Refik Bey, the National Library and Promotion of Education Council was established. With the support of the Committee of Union and Progress, İbrahim Refik Bey began working with figures such as Talat Muşkara, Besim Bey, Ziya Bey, Rahmi Bey, İbrahim Ethem Postacıoğlu, Bekir Selami, İlyas Basri, and Ali Refet Efendi. Due to financial difficulties, the initial council disbanded, and in 1912 a new council was formed under the leadership of Mehmet Celal Saygun. This council rented the mansion of Salepçioğlu Hacı Ahmet Efendi and opened the library to the public on 6 July 1912. Book donations came from prominent individuals including Şehzade Yusuf İzzettin Efendi, Ali Haydar Mithat, İzzet Fuat Paşa, and Abdullah Cevdet.

To ensure the library’s sustainability, a cinema building was constructed in the garden of the mansion in 1913. Completed with the support of philanthropists such as Müezzinzade Ali Bey, Pulcu Ömer Efendi, and Caferizade Kemal Bey, the cinema generated income for the library. Half of the cinema’s revenue was allocated to the library, while the other half supported educational and social projects for poor children, including tailoring workshops.

Armistice and Occupation Years

In 1915, with the support of Governor Rahmi Bey, the foundations for the library and cinema buildings were laid. Designed by architect Tahsin Sermet Bey, construction began near Bahri Baba Park. However, the Greek occupation in 1919 halted construction. During the Armistice period, criticism directed at the Committee of Union and Progress affected the library; in 1919, the management council was replaced, and figures such as Faik Ener, Mehmet Şevki, Halit, and Mahmut Tahirül-Mevlevi were appointed.

Republican Era

After İzmir’s liberation in 1922, construction work accelerated. In 1925, the National Library Society was established, and in 1926 the cinema building was completed with the support of İpek Film Company and opened as the Elhamra Cinema. The library building was completed in 1933 using rental income from İpek Film and municipal support. The official opening ceremony took place on 31 October 1933, marking the 10th anniversary of the Republic. According to the society’s bylaws published in 1934, the library possessed a budget of 259,912 TL and a collection of 14,755 books. ^【2】 

Among the founders of the library were Mahmut Celal Bayar, Mehmet Celal Saygun, Faik Ener, Süleyman Ferit Eczacıbaşı, Süleyman Tuser, Cevahircizade Şükrü, Mahmut Tahir, Talat Muşkara, Osmanzade Hamdi Aksoy, Sezai Söker, Maksutzade Ethem, Abidin Bey, Salih Akalın, and Selahattin Saip. Figures such as Kadızade İbrahim Refik and Ali Refet Efendi also played vital roles in its establishment.

Interior View of the Library (İzmir National Library)

Association and Foundation Structure

The organization, which began in 1911 as the “National Library Council,” became the National Library Society in 1925. In 1939, the title “National” was officially registered, and in 1954 the association gained the status of a public benefit organization. In 1977, under the leadership of Necdet Öklem, the National Library Foundation was established. In 1978, the association’s assets were transferred to the foundation, and management passed to the foundation. The chairpersons of the foundation have been, in succession, Necdet Öklem (1978–1997), Ömer Yiğitbaşı (1997–2000), and Ulvi Puğ (2000–present).

Architectural Features

The National Library and cinema buildings were designed by Mimar Tahsin Sermet Bey in the Neo-Classical Turkish architectural style. This style, developed in the early 20th century under the leadership of Mimar Kemaleddin and Vedat Bey, is represented in İzmir by structures such as the Büyük Kardiçalı Han and the Bourse building.

Cinema Building

The National Library Cinema (today the İzmir State Opera and Ballet) features a dome, pointed-arch wooden doors, tiled lunettes adorned with Kütahya tiles, and rumî motifs on its exterior. The interior offers aesthetic richness through ceilings decorated with Turkish embroidery, fresco panels by Naci Kalmukov, chandelier-style lighting fixtures, and ceramic panels. Its 120-square-meter stage is used for theater and concerts. In 1978, the building was leased to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and converted into an opera and ballet hall; the stage was expanded, an orchestra pit was excavated, and the seating capacity was reduced to 344. ^【3】 

Library Building

The two-story library building houses administrative offices, a reading room, and book storage on the ground floor, and foundation management offices and storage on the upper floor. Wooden bookshelves made of gürgen wood, produced during the Second Constitutional Era by Giritli İbrahim Bey, are preserved within the building.

Collection and Library Services

As of 2009, the İzmir National Library holds a collection of 670,000 books, 4,800 periodicals, and 7,400 newspapers. ^【4】 Among approximately 4,000 manuscripts are Enveri’s Düstûrnâme-i Enverî (1464–1465), İbrahim Müteferrika’s printed edition of Katip Çelebi’s Cihannüma, Aristotle’s 1531 Gutenberg edition, and 72 copies of the Qur’an. ^【5】 

The collection is built through the following means:

Legal Deposit: Since 1934, one copy of every publication issued in Türkiye has been sent to the library under Law No. 2527 on Legal Deposit of Printed Works.

Donations: Contributions from individuals and institutions form the foundation of the collection.

Purchase and Exchange: Materials are acquired to a limited extent through purchase and exchange.