A History of Ottoman Libraries

Author: Ismail E. Erünsal, Academic Studies Press, 2022

A History of Ottoman Libraries tells the story of the development and the organization of Ottoman libraries from the fourteenth through the twentieth century. In the first part, the book surveys the phases through which the Ottoman libraries evolved from a few shelves of books to sizable, endowed collections housed in free-standing library buildings. Ottoman libraries were mainly established as charitable foundations, that is by endowing the books and steady income for the maintenance of the collection and the library building. The second part of the book focuses on the organization, the personnel, and the day-to-day functioning of Ottoman libraries.  

The introduction familiarizes the reader with the Ottoman college system and the empire’s institutions. Erünsal provides an overview for readers who need additional background about the Ottoman Empire, specifically, the charitable foundations of many institutions, important events in Ottoman history, and the Ottoman educational system. After the introduction, A History of Ottoman Libraries contains two parts. The first part, “Historical Development,” describes the historical phases libraries went through. The second part, “Organization,” deals with the functions and operations of libraries.