Considered from the proclamation of the Republic (1923) to the present (2013), the most remarkable point about the libraries of Istanbul is the continuous change and transformation these institutions have gone through. It can be noted that the libraries as the most important bearers, conveyers and conservators of cultural memory have been reshaped, redefined and renamed in parallel with the political and cultural climate of each period.
With the establishment of the republic, the libraries which were inherited from the Ottoman period, began to be reorganized, and new libraries that were to represent the ideology of the new regime and to contribute to the establishment of it were opened. The most important implementation regarding these libraries began with the centralization of the libraries belonging to the foundations, which were affiliated to the Ministry of Foundations, as well as of the mosque and madrasa libraries, in accordance with the law of the Unification of Education [Tevhid-i Tedrisat] dated 3.3.1340 (1924) and numbered 430. Subsequent to this, libraries that were outside the scope of this law were also assigned to the Board of Education dated 31.11.1925 under the Law numbered 677 Which Prohibits and Abolishes the Profession of Tomb-Keeping, the Assigning of Mystical Names, and the Closing of Tekkes, Zaviyes (Dervish Lodges) and Mausoleums. In 1918, these collections together with those assigned to the Public Library, which had been founded during the reign of Sultan Selim I, were gathered in a building pertaining to the Süleymaniye Madrasa, and thus the Süleymaniye Library which is one of the most important Islamic manuscript libraries in the world today was established.1 In Istanbul, only Ragıp Pasha Library, Atıf Efendi Library, Köprülü Library, Nuruosmaniye Library, Kütüphane-i Umumî (The Public Library or Bayezid State Library), Murad Molla Library, Feyzullah Efendi (Ali Emirî) Library and Hacı Selim Ağa Library were left in their places.2
The People’s Houses (Halkevleri) and the Public Reading Rooms, which were among the most important parts of the political and cultural climate of the Early Republican period, should also be mentioned here, albeit shortly. Although, today not much trace is left in Istanbul of the People’s Houses and their libraries that were founded upon the legacy of the Turkish Societies (which had been opened in 1911 and closed in 1931) and were influential on the cultural life of Istanbul as well as on that of the whole country from 1932 to 1951. For example, among the most famous People’s House libraries of Istanbul, the collections of which were mostly trasferred to those affiliated to the Ministry of National Education after being closed, is the People’s House Library of Kadıköy. This library and its building, which rendered service between the years 1935 and 1951 is in service today as the Kadıköy Public Education Center and Evening Art School. Although no specific study on Eminönü People’s House and its library is found, it can be inferred both from this institution’s own activities and publications and from various other resources that these were also among the most effective places of the period.
To find out which of the libraries were founded in Istanbul after 1950, we can have a look at the book İstanbul Kütüphaneleri [Libraries of Istanbul] edited and published by Meral Alpay and Safiye Özkan in 1982. When the data given in this book is examined, it is seen that especially the foundation of public and children’s libraries by the government as well as by private corporations accelerated between the years 1950-1970. According to this book, which presents the map of Istanbul libraries of almost four decades ago, there are totally 379 libraries in Istanbul under the following headings and in the following numbers:
Public libraries (66)
Hospital libraries (20)
Museum and manuscript libraries (15)
Industrial, commercial and occupational organization libraries (38)
University and college libraries (226)
Foreign libraries (13)
As can be seen in the inventory given above, university and college libraries constitute the highest number (226) among all. All the large and small libraries, affiliated with faculties, departments and seminars as well as the central libraries of the educational institutions of the period were included in this total. Taking the eleven universities and colleges, which were present in Istanbul during the period between the end of 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s, when this book was edited and published, the number of the existing libraries in Istanbul appears to have been 173.3
Although we do not have the opportunity to make a statistical comparison of the libraries of Istanbul for want of a similar book4 or a study on the current situation today, we can say that some among the libraries included in the book were closed5 down or were assigned to other institutions,6 while others have ceased to render public service, though still existing,7 or have continued their service under different names.8 As previously stated, although it is not possible to give certain information on the types and number of the libraries in Istanbul by 2013 for want of a similar book, there has obviously been an increase in their number.9 It is remarkable that libraries have been founded especially at the culture centers, which were opened by the recently founded art institutes and by district municipalities.10 Besides, it should be noted that the increase in the number of universities in Istanbul has given way to a parallel increase in the number of university libraries.11
Although the library inventory below does not include all the libraries of Istanbul, it is still a witness to how the cultural richness and diversity of Istanbul, which rapidly flourished from the 1990s is represented and shared by its libraries. The fact that fourteen among the forty-two libraries introduced below were either founded or reorganized between the years 1990-2012 is an indicative of this change.12 The inventory also shows that most of these libraries were founded in the historical peninsula.
On the other hand, for the last two decades, not only the libraries of Istanbul but all libraries in the world have been deeply influenced by the developments in the field of computer and Internet technologies. Almost all libraries of Istanbul have websites, and their catalogues can be accessed online. Some publications, especially articles can be easily accessed through the websites of libraries. So these technological developments have influenced and continue to influence the buildings, collections and names of the libraries of Istanbul. For instance, words other than “library” are added to the names of the newly-established libraries or the word “library” is removed from the names of the already existing ones (History Foundation of Turkey Information and Documentation Center, Sabancı University Information Center, etc.). Despite all of these positive developments, it should be stated that the citylibrary and museum of Istanbul, which is a dream of those who love this city, has not been built yet.13
There are currently more than a hundred libraries actively in service in Istanbul. Since giving information on these libraries with all their characteristics will go beyond the purposes and scope of this article, only those that the most influenced and contributed to the cultural, literary and scientific life of Istanbul have been selected.14 In the list below, the forty-two libraries that are actively visited by readers, researchers and students are briefly introduced in an alphabetical order. Furthermore, since it is easy to access intended information via the websites of almost all of these libraries, giving the names, establishment dates, locations, domains of the collections and the website addresses of them is considered adequate.
1) Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar Literature Museum Library: It is singled out due to its status of being the first official library founded in Gülhane Park in 2011, bearing the word of “literature” in its name. It has a collection of about 8,000 books.15 Although the collection has not been transferred to the web, the library announces its activities to those concerned via its Facebook page at the address: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ahmet-Hamdi-Tanpınar-Edebiyat-Müze-Kütüphanesi/321298891234642?hc_location=timeline
2) German Archeology Institute Library: Founded in Gümüşsuyu in 1929, the library has quite a rich collection in the fields of archeology and of Ottoman history. Its catalogue consisting of about 60.000 books and 200 periodicals can be searched from the address: http://www.dainst.org/tr/department/kütüphane-İstanbul?ft=all
3) Alvaro Mutis (Spanish Cervantes Institute) Library: Founded in Beyoğlu in 2002 by the name Spanish Cervantes Institute Library and was named after the Colombian poet and writer Alvaro Mutis in 2005. Its collection consisting of about 19.000 publications on Spanish and Latin American culture and language can be accessed from the address: http://estambul.cervantes.es/tr/kutuphane_turkce/kutuphane_hakinda.htm
4) The Library of American Research Institute in Turkey: Currently located in Arnavutköy, it was founded in 1965. The library has a rich collection in the fields of archeology and of Ottoman history (with about 14,000 books and periodicals). The catalogue of the library as well as the links of the world libraries particularly specialized in the Middle East and Turkey, and some other related publications can be accessed from the address: http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/ARIT/Library.html
5) Military Museum Library: Founded in Harbiye in 1908, the library has a rich collection of books, journals, audio-visual materials particularly in military topics. Although there is no online access to it, the catalogue of the manuscripts at the library has been published.16
6) Atatürk Library: The first municipality library of Istanbul, opened by the name Şehremaneti Library in 1924, Atatürk Library rendered service first by the name City and Revolution Records Museum and Library in the Madrasa of Bayezid II at the Beyazıt Square between the years 1931-1981 and then has continued service by the name Istanbul Municipality Library.17 The collection of the library which moved to its current place in Taksim in 1981 and took the name Atatürk Library includes the books, periodicals and documentary records granted by almost a hundred donators, especially by its founders Osman Ergin, Muallim Cevdet, Haşim İşcan and Muhsin Ertuğrul. At the library which has been enriched also with purchased sources, there are over 200,000 printed books, manuscripts, albums, atlases-maps, calendars, yearbooks, postcards, newspapers, reference books as well as Atatürk and Istanbul themed special collections. Fragmentary publications have been made from the very precious collection of Atatürk Library. For instance, the catalogue of Osman Ergin’s books, the manuscripts catalogue, the postcard collection and the documents of Fatma Aliye are some of these. The library can be accessed from the address: http://www.ibb.gov.tr/sites/kultur/kulturel_mekanlar/Pages/AtaturkKitapligi.aspx
7) Atıf Efendi Library: As is stated above, Atıf Efendi Library was founded by the Provincial Treasurer Âtıf Mustafa Efendi (d. 1742) in Vefa in 1741.18 The collection of the library, rich in the manuscripts of Âtıf Efendi and M. Zeki Pakalın (3.228 manuscripts) and Turkish prints in Arabic letters can be accessed from the address: http://www.yazmakutup.gov.tr/atifefendi/giris.html. Atıf Efendi Library is marked out both as an example of eighteenth-century library architecture in Istanbul and with its being used as befitting its purposes of construction.
8) Aziz Berker District Public Library: Founded in 1969, Aziz Berker District Public Library is among the best-serving libraries of Kadıköy region.19 The catalogue of the library including a collection of almost 20,000 books can be accessed from the address: http://kutuphane.kadikoy.bel.tr/Yordamtk.htm
9) Press Museum Library: Opened within the Press Museum in Çemberlitaş in 1998, the library has a rich collection of primary and secondary sources on the Ottoman and Republican period press. The collection can be accessed from the address: http://www.tgc.org.tr/bm_kutuphane.asp
10) Bayezid State Library: As stated above, the library was opened qua “the first Ottoman national library” by the name Kütüphane-i Umumî-i Osmanî (Ottoman Public Library) in 1884 in the rearranged public soup-kitchen unit of Bayezid II Complex.20 The name of the library was changed as Istanbul Public Library in 1934 and as Bayezid State Library in 1960. It is one of the six libraries that benefited from the Act of Legal Deposit, dated June 21, 1934 numbered 2527. Its collection includes almost 1,000,000 documents in total. In this huge collection, there are 513,128 books, 11,120 manuscripts, 28,300 Turkish prints in Arabic letters and 66,389 foreign language resources. Besides, there are about 26,386 periodicals, 34,641 postcards and photographies, 165 banknotes, 2,157 stamps, 550 gramophone records, 393 maps and 7,055 affiches. The library can be accessed from the address: http://www.beyazitkutup.gov.tr/kunye.php
11) BİSAV (Foundation for Sciences and Arts) Library: The library of the Foundation for Sciences and Arts, founded in 1986 in Vefa has a collection primarily focused on the fields of social sciences, literature, history, religion, philosophy and arts, and consisting of over 88,000 books mostly in Turkish and 1,981 periodicals. The collection that has been enriched both by purchased and donated materials can be accessed from the address: http://www.bisav.org.tr/kutuphane.aspx?contentid=3&menuID=3&menuName=kutuphane
12) Borusan Music Library: Located in the building of Borusan Culture and Arts Center in Beyoğlu and in service since 1997. The library has a collection, consisting of books, CDs, notes and journals on classical music, jazz, blues, world musics, Turkish classical music and Turkish folk music. The collection including almost 8,500 books, 7,000 notes, 10,500 CDs, 3,000 LP, 150 VHS’s and 100 DVDs can be accessed from the address: http://www.borusansanat.com/__MuzikKutuphanesi/Kutuphane_Tanitim.aspx
13) Çelik Gülersoy Foundation Istanbul Library: In 1990 Çelik Gülersoy (d. 2003) founded Istanbul Library at Ayasofya Soğukçeşme Street, in one of the mansions belonging to Touring and Automobile Club of Turkey with her collection consisting of the publications she had collected particularly about Istanbul (including almost 7,000 books).21 The collection currently consists of almost 13,000 books and a vast number of visual materials (photographies, gravures, postcards) especially regarding the settlement history, archeology, architecture and literature of Istanbul in the Roman, Ottoman and Republican periods. The library and its collection is not accessible online yet.
14) Naval Museum Library: Founded in 1897, the library is currently located in the Naval Museum in Beşiktaş. The collection of the library consists of manuscripts and printed books in various fields, mostly on naval history and marine. The library has also an archive of maps consisting of 1,120 maps. Detailed information about the library can be found at the address: http://www.denizmuzeleri.tsk.tr/idmk/sayfalar.asp?KID=269
15) Armenian Patriarchate (Ormanyan) Library: At the library, the foundation of which is considered dating back as early as that of the Patriarchate (1461), there are over 25,000 religious works mostly in Armenian language. Besides, there are books in the fields of history, geography, linguistics, literature as well as resources like dictionaries and itineraries. The library located in the Patriarchate in Kumpapı does not have a website yet.
16) Fener Greek Patriarchate Library: At the library founded in 1890 within the Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, which has been located in the Hagios Monastery in Fener since 1601, there are mostly Greek books, related to religion, history and philosophy in various languages.
17) French Institute of Anatolian Studies Library: Founded by Albert Gabriel at the garden of the building known as the French Palace by the name Istanbul Archeology Institute in 1930 but the institute’s name was changed to French Institute of Anatolian Studies in 1975. The collection of the library, which was founded by the institute, consists of over 26,000 resources on archeology, Anatolian archeology, art, art history, turcology as well as travel books about Turkey. Furthermore, one of the two documentation centers, which is focused on Istanbul, has the purpose of collecting all kinds of materials on Istanbul to be put into public service. In addition, the purpose of the second documentation center is to collect materials on Caucasia and the Middle East. Information about the institute and its library can be accessed from the address: http://www.ifea-istanbul.net
18) Hakkı Tarık Us Library: Founded at Bayezid Kulliye Primary School in 1957 by the will of Hakkı Tarık Us (d. 1956), one of the famous journalists of the time, the library discontinuously rendered service at its place of foundation until 2003 when it was assigned to Bayezid State Library. The whole periodical publications collection of Hakkı Tarık Us, which is of matchless value for scholars was transmitted to the Internet (2010) under the guidance of Tokyo Foreign Language University and has been put into free public use at the address: http://www.tufs.ac.jp/common/fs/asw/tur/htu/22
19) Heybeliada Aya Triada Monastery Library: Founded in 1844, the library has a rich and precious collection consisting of over 120,000 books in Greek, Latin, Turkish, Italian, French, English, German and Arabic in the fields of history, art history, geography, philology, philosophy, archeology and mainly religion.
20) Netherlands Historical-Archeological Library: Founded in 1957, the library has a collection of almost 15,000 books and 9,000 journals in various fields, especially in history, prehistory, philology, Ottoman, European and modern Turkish histories. The collection can be accessed from the address: http://www.nit-istanbul.org/nitlibrarytr.htm
21) IRCICA Library: Founded in 1980 by the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture, a subsidiary of the Organization of Islamic Conference, the library has 60,000 books, 1,460 periodicals, 4,000 article offprints, 4,000 gray publications and 1,000 maps mainly on Islamic culture and civilization as well as a rich archive of photographies. The collection which has been enriched with purchased and donated resources can be accessed from the address: http://tr.ircica.org/library/irc426.aspx
22) ISAM (Center for Islamic Studies) Library: Founded in 1984 with the purpose of collecting the materials, necessary for the preparation of TDV’s (Türkiye Diyanet Foundation) Encyclopedia of Islam (DİA), the library has been enriched with purchased and donated resources in line with both the demands of the encyclopedia and the readers, and has reached the status of being the best social sciences library not only in Istanbul but throughout the country today.23 By 2013, the library had a collection consisting of almost 250,000 volumes, about 780 followed periodicals (with a total of almost 167,000 issues), documents (18,000), microfilms (Ottoman qadi registers, 22,948), microfiches and microfilms (411), offprints (5,386) and CDs (1,218). Both the collection of the library and a vast number of social sciences databases can be accessed from the address: ktp.isam.org.tr
23) Istanbul Research Institute Library: Founded by Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation in 2003 following Pera Museum (2005), Istanbul Research Institute was opened to public service in 2007. The library which was founded with the purpose of meeting the Istanbul researchers’ needs for printed and electronic scientific resources has added to its collection the books of famous book collectors (Şevket Rado ve Semavi Eyice) in line with this purpose. The collection of the library, which is also rich in visual materials on Istanbul consists of almost 34,000 books. The library can be accessed from the address: http://www.iae.org.tr//kutuphane/detay.aspx?SectionID= uVzivUafIy1%2b52FHOC0sxg%3d%3d&ContentID= ygwIWFjmtzzZZnorIl6C6Q%3d%3d.
24) Istanbul Archeology Museums Library: Although it is accepted that the library was officially founded in 1903 when the second Office of the Archeology Museum was opened, the fact that the Ministry of Education appointed officials to the library in 1893 indicates that endeavors for the foundation of the library date back to older times.24 Thanks to the efforts of its founder Osman Hamdi Bey (d. 1910), the collection of the library was enriched with purchased, donated and exchanged materials, and it became one of the best collections not only of Istanbul but of the whole country with its 60,000 books published in the fields of archeology, history, art history, geography, fine arts, epigraphy, etnography, ancient Asia Minor cultures, numismatics and travel accounts. Though Istanbul Archeology Museums have a website, there is no online access either to the library or to its collection.
23) Istanbul Research Institute Library: Founded by Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation in 2003 following Pera Museum (2005), Istanbul Research Institute was opened to public service in 2007. The library which was founded with the purpose of meeting the Istanbul researchers’ needs for printed and electronic scientific resources has added to its collection the books of famous book collectors (Şevket Rado ve Semavi Eyice) in line with this purpose. The collection of the library, which is also rich in visual materials on Istanbul consists of almost 34,000 books. The library can be accessed from the address: http://www.iae.org.tr//kutuphane/detay.aspx?SectionID= uVzivUafIy1%2b52FHOC0sxg%3d%3d&ContentID= ygwIWFjmtzzZZnorIl6C6Q%3d%3d.
24) Istanbul Archeology Museums Library: Although it is accepted that the library was officially founded in 1903 when the second Office of the Archeology Museum was opened, the fact that the Ministry of Education appointed officials to the library in 1893 indicates that endeavors for the foundation of the library date back to older times.25 Thanks to the efforts of its founder Osman Hamdi Bey (d. 1910), the collection of the library was enriched with purchased, donated and exchanged materials, and it became one of the best collections not only of Istanbul but of the whole country with its 60,000 books published in the fields of archeology, history, art history, geography, fine arts, epigraphy, etnography, ancient Asia Minor cultures, numismatics and travel accounts. Though Istanbul Archeology Museums have a website, there is no online access either to the library or to its collection.
25) Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Cartoon and Humour Museum Library: First founded in 1975 and closed in 1980, the Cartoon Museum was established again in Gazanfer Agha Complex, next to the Valens Aqueduct in 1989. In 2010, it moved to its new place in Kasımpaşa. In the collection of the museum library, there are all kinds of domestic and foreign publications on humour and caricature, as well as an archive consisting of the original drawings and drawing copies of both domestic and foreign carucaturists. The collection cannot be accessed online yet.
26) Istanbul Modern Art Museum Library: The library founded within the body of Istanbul Modern Art Museum which was officially opened in 2004, has been enriching its collection in such fields as Turkish art history and artists, catalogues of museums, galleries and of private art collections, theoretical works on art, art movements and museology.26 Its collection consisting of 9,000 books and 29 domestic and foreign journals can be accessed from the address: http://www.istanbulmodern.org/tr/kutuphane/koleksiyon_31.html
27) Italian Culture Center Library: Founded in the nineteenth century by the name Dante Aligheri, the name of the library was changed as Italian Culture Center Library in 1951. It has a collection rich in such fields as Italian culture and literature, cinema, theatre, music, history, geography and law. The collection consisting of about 12,000 books can be accessed from the address: http://www.iicistanbul.esteri.it/IIC_Istanbul/Menu/Biblioteca+e+Links/
28) Women’s Works Library: Opened in 1990 in the building provided by the Metropolitan Municipality in Fener, the library is marked out with its collection focused on the subject of woman.27 The library collection which is rich not only in topical books and periodicals, but also in archive materials, theses, audio-visual materials, affiches, oral histories, ephemeras, gray publications and personal records of women can be accessed from the address: http://www.kadineserleri.org/default.asp
29) Koç University Anatolian Civilizations Research Center Library (ANAMED): At the library founded in 2005 as affiliated to Koç University Suna Kıraç Library in Beyoğlu, there are about 18,000 volumes on the history, art and archeology of the Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman periods besides a rich archive of audio-visual materials. The library is accessible online from the address: http://rcac.ku.edu.tr/library/about
30) Köprülü Library: As stated above, founded by the famous Köprülü family in 1661, the library is of importance both with its collection rich in Arabic-Persian and Turkish manuscripts and with its status of being the very first library of the Ottoman Istanbul, built not as part of another architectural structure but separately.28 The catalogue of the precious manuscript collection of the library, which still renders service as befitting its purpose of construction, has been published.29 The collection can be accessed from the address: http://www.yazmakutup.gov.tr/koprulu/giris.html
31) Millet Manuscript Library (Ali Emiri Library): The library was founded by Ali Emîrî (d. 1924) by the name Millet Library in 1916. Located in the Feyziye Madrasah built by the Şeyhülislam Feyzullah Efendi (d. 1703) in Fatih in 1700-1701, the library consists of the Arabic, Persian and Turkish collections of Ali Emîrî and Feyzullah Efendi (with about 6,000 manuscripts and over 30,000 printed works).30 The catalogue of the library, which can be accessed from the address http://www.milletkutup.gov.tr is currently under construction.
32) Orhan Kemal Provincial Public Library (Istanbul Provincial Public Library): Opened to service by the name Istanbul Provincial Public Library within Fatih Millet Library in 1962, the library moved to its current Simkeşhane building in Beyazıt and was named after Orhan Kemal, becoming Orhan Kemal City Public Library in 1981.31 The library which consists of children’s, adults and periodicals units has a collection of about 45,000 books and periodicals. The library can be accessed from the address: http://www.istanbulkutup.gov.tr/?SyfNmb=1&pt=ANASAYFA
33) Orient Institute Library: Deutsche Orient Institute Library (Cihangir) which was opened as a branch of Orient-Institut Beirut in 1989 turned into an autonomous institution in 2009. Its collection consisting of almost 39,000 works and 1,300 periodicals mainly on Ottoman Empire and Turkish Republican literature can be accessed from the address http://oiist.org/?q=tr/node/5
34) Ottoman Bank Archives and Research Center Library: The library, which was founded in 1997 and has been in service since 1999 in its historical building at Karaköy, has a very rich collection consisting of publications on the economic, political and social history of the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic before and after Tanzimat (Reform) period in general and on their banking and financial history in particular. The library, which was founded by the Ottoman Bank, currently belongs to Garanti Bank, and has a collection consisting of 15,000 books, 1,200 periodicals, gray publications and audio-visual materials. The collection can be accessed from the address: http://www.obarsiv.com/kutuphane.html. In the building where the library is located, there is also the SALT Research Center which illustrates the transformation that the concept of library goes through both by its spatial arrangement and name, and by bringing together a library and archive material on art, architecture, design, urban planning, social and economic history.
35) Ragıp Pasha Library: As stated above, the library which is founded by the Grand Vizier Ragıb Pasha in Laleli in 1763 is of vital importance due to both its manuscript collection (including 1,274 manuscripts) and its architecture. The library, which was among the buildings most frequently engraved in gravures in Ottoman Istanbul, has been closed for many years for reasons of renovation.
36) Süleymaniye Library: Founded in 1918 by the name Süleymaniye Public Library, the library is home to world’s most important collections of Turkish, Arabic and Persian manuscripts.32 It has 131 collections in total, including those of the most prominent book collectors of the Ottoman period, such as Amcazade Hüseyin Pasha (d. 1702), Damat İbrahim Paşa (d. 1730), Beşir Agha (d. 1746), Âşir Efendi (d. 1804), Hâlet Efendi (d. 1823) and Hüsrev Pasha (d. 1855). There are about 76,000 manuscripts and 67,000 books printed in Arabic letters in the library. There are also works, tablets and files printed in Latin and in other foreign languages. The library collection can be accessed from the address: http://www.suleymaniye.gov.tr
37) History Foundation of Turkey: Founded with the name Economic and Social History Foundation of Turkey in 1991 and had its name changed as History Foundation in 2005, the institution’s library and archive, named the Information and Documentation Center, was put into public service in 1992. By 2013, the collection consisted of 25,000 books, almost 900 periodicals and 140 shelves of archives (including documents, audio-visual, iconographic and cartographic, etc. materials) donated by about 700 persons, institutions, archives and libraries. The Information and Documentation Center at the foundation’s center in Eminönü can be accessed from the address: http://www.tarihvakfi.org.tr/cms/index.php/bilgi-belge-merkezi/duyurular/itemlist/category/66-bilgi-belge-merkezi
38) Topkapı Palace Museum Library: Having had this name in 1928, the library was established by bringing together of the collections in various places of the palace in the Ottoman period. There are thirteen collections in the library, those of the Revan Manor, the Treasury, the Baghdad Manor, the Treasury of Trusts, Ahmed III, Mehmed Reşad, Tiryal Hanım and Hırka-i Saadet (Cloak of Muhammad) being in the main collections in the first place. The catalogue of the books in the collection were edited and published by Fehmi Edhem Karatay as seven volumes in total, two volumes being in Turkish, one volume in Persian and four in Arabic.33 The library cannot be accessed online yet.
39) Türker İnanoğlu Foundation Ulvi Uraz Art Library: It was founded in Kavacık-Beykoz by Türker İnanoğlu Foundation together with the Motion Pictures and Television Museum in 1999. Dating from 2010, it has continued to render service as a foundation, museum and library. The collection of the library, which has been enriched with purchased and donated materials consists of a considerable number of books, journals (about 60,000 vols.) and audio-visual materials on various branches of art, particularly on Turkish cinema and television. Although the collection cannot be accessed online, brief information about the library can be found at the address http://www.turvak.com.tr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=189&Itemid=237
40) Turkish Sport Foundation Olympiad and Sport Foundation Library: Founded within the bureau of the National Olympiad Committee of Turkey in Şişli in 1974, the collection of the library has been enriched both with purchases and donations. The library which rendered service in Sultanahmet between the years 1985-1995 moved to the Olympic House built in Ataköy in 1995. The library consists of a collection of about 10,000 domestic and foreign books mainly on sports, and there is also a vast number of topical documents. The library and its collection are accessible online from the address: http://www.tsvsporkutuphanesi.org.tr/Kutuphanemiz.aspx
41) Vitali Hakko Creative Industries Library: Opened to service at Altunizade in 2012, the library has a collection of about 11,550 books, journals and audio-visual materials in the fields of fashion, architecture, painting, design, photography, music and cinema, which can be accessed from the address: http://kutuphane.vakko.com.tr/web/catalog/basic_search.php
42) Yapı Kredi Sermet Çifter Research Library: The library, which initially rendered service by the name Yapı Kredi Bank Library in Çemberlitaş, moved its place to İstiklal Street in 1992, and after being rearranged in 2000 it was turned into a research library specialized on the subject of the city of Istanbul. Later on, it was named after Sermet Çifter, the first general director of the bank, and the word “research” was also added to its name, indicating the new mission of the library. Embodying the collections of prominent literary and cultural figures of the Republican period, such as M. Fuat Köprülü, Cavit Baysun, Falih Rıfkı Atay, Hamdullah Suphi Tanrıöver, İsmail Hikmet Ertaylan, Küçük Sait Pasha, Şevket Rado, Vedat Nedim Tör, Yaşar Nabi Nayır and Yahya Kemal Beyatlı, the library has had its catalogue of manuscripts and first edition books published.34Although dating from 2010, the library has ceased to render service to its readers, its collection consisting of over 80,000 volumes can be accessed from the address: http://www.ykykultur.com.tr/sermet/. It is hoped that this condition of the library, which has had an important place in the cultural life of Istanbul, is a temporary one.
FOOTNOTES
1 Müjgân Cunbur, “Yazma Kütüphanelerimiz: Bugünkü Durumları ve Meseleri”, TKDB, vol. 19, no. 1 (1970), pp. 8-9.
2 On the histories and conditions of these libraries please refer to Ismail E. Erunsal’s articles published in DİA (The Encyclopedia of Islam). “Ragıp Paşa Library”, vol. 36, pp. 406-407; “Atıf Efendi Library”, vol. 4, pp. 60-61; “Köprülü Library”, vol. 26, 257-256; “Nuruosmaniye Library”, vol. 33, pp. 266-267; “Murad Molla Library”, XXXI, 188; “Hacı Selim Ağa Library”, XIV, 498. Besides, it should be noted that after the Earthquake of August 17, 1999 both Murad Molla Library and Süleymaniye Library were transferred. For the manuscript libraries of Istanbul see Günay Kut, “İstanbul’daki Yazma Kütüphaneleri”, Yazmalar Arasında: Eski Türk Edebiyatı Araştırmaları, Istanbul: Simurg, 2005, vol. 1, pp. 253-284 [1st ed.: TD, no. 33 (1980-81), pp. 341-374].
3 For it is seen that relatively small faculty, department and seminar libraries were gradually closed as the importance given to central university libraries increased.
4 Although the book İstanbul Kütüphaneleri: Libraries of Istanbul (within the scope of Istanbul İstanbul 2010 Avrupa Kültür Başkenti Ajansı, 2010) edited by Hülya Dilek Kayaoğlu within the scope of Istanbul 2010 is a significant study on its own, only 30 libraries are included in the book. In the book Istanbul’un 100 Kütüphanesi (Istanbul: İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi Kültür A.Ş., 2010) prepared by Ümit Konya again within the scope of Istanbul 2010, the 100 libraries in Istanbul are outlined. Besides, in the book Fotoğraflarla İstanbul Kütüphaneleri (A Cross-Selection of Libraries of Istanbul with Related Texts and Specialized Photographs) (texts and edition by Hasan S. Keseroğlu, R. Tûba Çavdar and Neslihan Uraz; photos by Edibe Buğra, Istanbul: Türk Kütüphaneciler Derneği, 1995) 30 libraries are included. However, the data and inventories on the Internet are neither complete and updated nor do they go beyond a random conveying of published resources.
5 For instance, Hüsrev Paşa Public Library in Eyüp, the building which was built in 1839 and which was turned into the Public Library in 1966 was closed. As for the fate of the English Cultural Committee Library which was founded in 1946 and was actively used by English learners, there is not even any information left at hand.
6 For instance, the collection of Tercüman Newspaper Library, which was founded in 1974, was then purchased by Süleymaniye Library.
7 The library, which was founded in the American Press and Culture Center in Tepebaşı in 1946, actively rendered service to the readers until 2003 when it moved to its new building at the U.S. Consulate in Istinye. Although on the Internet it is stated that the library is still in service in its new building, no information was found on the website of the consulate confirming that there is indeed such a unit.
8 For instance, the Austrian Culture Office Library, which was founded in Teşvikiye in 1963 with a collection rich in literature, culture, history, philosophy, music, art and art history especially regarding Austria was united in 2006 with the library of St. George’s Austrian High School in Karaköy to continue its serviceunder the name ‘Austrian Library’. Furthermore, twelve different libraries and collections are now within the body of Yıldız Technical University Library under the heading of Istanbul State Engineering and Architecture.
9 It should be noted in passing that the number of institutional and personal archives in Istanbul is rapidly increasing. It is observed that there is not any autonomous establishments carrying the name “archive” other than the Presidential Ottoman Archive, and archives are either autonomous units within library buildings or the part of library collections. Since this article focuses specifically on libraries, the archives that have a special status within the body of libraries are only briefly mentioned. In any case it should be noted that the archives constitute an important issue to be discussed within the scope of a specific study on the archives of Istanbul. For an elaborate study on personal archives see Neslihan Aracı, “İstanbul’daki Bilgi ve Belge Merkezleri’nde Bulunan Şahıs Arşivleri Üzerine Bir İnceleme” (MA thesis), Marmara University, 2010.
10 Bağcılar Municipality Library opened within Bağcılar Culture Center in 2002, Beyoğlu Municipality Turabi Baba Library Information Retrieval Center opened in 2008, Erdem Bayazıt Library opened within Alibeyköy Sport and Culture Center in 2008, Metin and Library opened within Sefaköy Sport and Culture Center in 2008 and Büyükçekmece Municipality Kutadgu Bilig Public Library can be given as examples of libraries opened in this period.
11 In Istanbul there are nearly 50 large and small libraries within the body of state, foundation and private universities and of vocational schools of higher education. Among these libraries, the ones with a considerable collection are those of Istanbul University, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul Technical University, Marmara University, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts Library, Yıldız Technical University, Bilgi University, Koç University, Sabancı University and Istanbul Şehir University.
12 These 13 libraries are as follows according to their date of establishment: Women’s Works Library: (1990); History Foundation of Turkey Information and Documentation Center: (1992); Borusan Music Library (1997); Ottoman Bank Archive and Research Center Library (1997); Press Museum Library (1998); Türker İnanoğlu Foundation Ulvi Uraz Art Library (1999); Yapı Kredi Sermet Çifter Research Library (reorganized in 2000); Alvaro Mutis (Spanish Cervantes Institute) Library (2002); Istanbul Modern Art Museum Library (2004); Koç University Anatolian Civilizations Research Center Library (2005); Istanbul Research Institute Library (2007); Orient Institute Library (2009, autonomous institute); Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar Literature Museum Library (2011); Vitali Hakko Creative Industries Library (2012).
13 It is understood that at the Simkeşhane building in which Orhan Kemal Provincial Public Library is located today, the Istanbul Province Library Establishment and Maintenance Foundation, including the founder Bedii N. Şehsuvaroğlu (d. 1977), carried out various activities to this purpose in the 1960s, but failed in putting its projects into effect. No studies could be found on this foundation and the activities it carried out. During the literature review, the name of the foundation was encountered among other public interest foundations, and the date of November 1, 1964 given here presumably indicates its date of establishment. Furthermore, in the article “Kütüphanecilikte Yeni Bir Görüş ve İstanbul Şehir Library” (A New Perspective in Librarianship and Istanbul Provincial Library) (TKDB, 1976, vol. 25, no. 1, p. 2), Şehsuvaroğlu’s statement that “And the re-established Istanbul Provincial Library aims to tend towards such social and original activities. Meanwhile it saved a very rare work of Istanbul, inherited from Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror by cherishingly having the historical Simkeşhane building restored” is worth pondering on with its background and outcomes.
14 Public and university libraries are excluded for their numerousness and purposes of establishment.
15 The number of the works existing in the collection of the library is tried to be given here as exactly as possible. For in the pages of annual membership to databases, e-books and e-journals, the number of accessible works of a given library may be reflected much higher that it actually is. However, there is no doubt that the number of accessible works may change from year to year depending on library budgets.
16 Askeri Müze Yazma Eserler Kataloğu, Istanbul: Askeri Müze ve Kültür Sitesi Komutanlığı, nd.
17 For information on the library and the inventory of its resources see Dilek Kayaoğlu, İstanbul Kütüphaneleri:Libraries of Istanbul, pp. 1-6.
18 For information on the library and the inventory of its resources see Kayaoğlu, İstanbul Kütüphaneleri (Libraries of Istanbul), pp. 11-15.
19 For information on the library and the inventory of its resources see Kayaoğlu, İstanbul Kütüphaneleri: Libraries of Istanbul, pp. 19-52.
20 For information on the library and the inventory of its resources see Kayaoğlu, İstanbul Kütüphaneleri: Libraries of Istanbul, pp. 25-30.
21 Before the library was opened to service, a catalogue of the publications in its collection was published (See İstanbul Kitaplığı: Katalog = Bibliotheque d’Istanbul: Cataloque, Istanbul: Çelik Gülersoy Vakfı, 1988); For information on the library and the inventory of its resources see Kayaoğlu, İstanbul Kütüphaneleri: Libraries of Istanbul, p. 50 ff.
22 The periodicals catalogue has also been published, see Selahattin Öztürk, Abdurrahman M. Hacıismailoğlu, Muhammed Hızarcı (ed.), Beyazıt Devlet Kütüphanesi Hakkı Tarık Us Koleksiyonu Süreli Yayınlar Kataloğu = Periodicals Catalogue of the Hakkı Tarık Us Collection Preserved in the Bayezid State Library, Tokyo: Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı Beyazıt Devlet Kütüphanesi and Tokyo Yabancı Diller Üniversitesi, 2010.
23 For detailed information on the center and the library see Mustafa Birol Ülker, “Türkiye Diyanet Vakfı İslâm Araştırmaları Merkezi ve Kütüphanesi”, Yavuz Argıt Armağanı, ed. Mustafa Birol Ülker, Istanbul: TDV Yayın Matbaacılık ve Ticaret İşletmesi, 2010, pp. 286-315; Recep Yılmaz, “TDV İSAM Kütüphanesi Bağış Koleksiyonları”, Yavuz Argıt Armağanı, pp. 316-323.
24 For information on the library and the inventory of its resources see Kayaoğlu, İstanbul Kütüphaneleri: Libraries of Istanbul, pp. 72-76.
25 For information on the library and the inventory of its resources see Kayaoğlu, İstanbul Kütüphaneleri: Libraries of Istanbul, pp. 72-76.
26 For information on the library and the inventory of its resources see Kayaoğlu, İstanbul Kütüphaneleri: Libraries of Istanbul, pp. 82-84.
27 For information on the library and the inventory of its resources see Kayaoğlu, İstanbul Kütüphaneleri: Libraries of Istanbul, pp. 85-89.
28 For information on the library and the inventory of its resources see Erünsal, “Köprülü Kütüphanesi”, vol. 26, pp. 257-256; Kayaoğlu, İstanbul Kütüphaneleri: Libraries of Istanbul, pp. 94-97.
29 Ramazan Şeşen, Cevat İzgi and Cemil Akpınar (ed.), Fihrisü Mahtûtâti Mektebeti Köprülî = Köprülü Kütüphanesi Yazmalar Kataloğu, 3 vol., Istanbul: İslam Tarih, Sanat ve Kültür Araştırma Merkezi (IRCICA), 1406/1986.
30 For information on the library and the inventory of its resources see Kayaoğlu, İstanbul Kütüphaneleri: Libraries of Istanbul, pp. 106-111.
31 For information on the library and the inventory of its resources see Kayaoğlu, İstanbul Kütüphaneleri: Libraries of Istanbul, pp. 123-125.
32 For information on the library and the inventory of its resources see Kayaoğlu, İstanbul Kütüphaneleri: Libraries of Istanbul, pp. 140-145.
33 Fehmi Edhem Karatay (ed.), Topkapı Sarayı Müzesi Kütüphanesi Arapça Yazmalar Kataloğu Istanbul: Topkapı Sarayı Müzesi, 1962, vol. 1; Fehmi Edhem Karatay and O. Reşer (ed.), Istanbul: Topkapı Sarayı Müzesi, 1964, vol. 2; Fehmi Edhem Karatay (comp.), Istanbul: Topkapı Sarayı Müzesi, 1966-69, vol. 3-4; Fehmi Edhem Karatay (ed.), Topkapı Sarayı Müzesi Kütüphanesi Farsça Yazmalar Kataloğu, Istanbul: Topkapı Sarayı Müzesi, 1961; Fehmi Edhem Karatay (ed.), Topkapı Sarayı Müzesi Kütüphanesi Türkçe Yazmalar Kataloğu, vol. 2, Istanbul: Topkapı Sarayı Müzesi, 1961.
34 Yücel Dağlı et. al. (ed.), Yapı Kredi Sermet Çifter Araştırma Kütüphanesi Yazmalar, Istanbul: Yapı Kredi Yayınları, 2001; Kasım Çelik (ed.), Yapı Kredi Sermet Çifter Araştırma Kütüphanesi Nadir Eserler Kataloğu, Istanbul: Yapı Kredi Yayınları, 2002.
