Library and Librarianship in Samanid Empire

To explore library building and equipment, methods for collection development, book organizations and different kinds of libraries during Samanid period.Methodology/Approach: The historical method is used and data was gathered from library resources. Libraries were the most important institutions in Samanid era and were categorized in royal, public, school and mosque libraries. Their collections were mainly provided through devotion, derivation, translation, compilation and donation. Many of the librarie's main activities can be seen in these institutions where scientists and scholars gathered for research and education. Due to the growth and development of different libraries, the expansion in their collections, the high usage of their resources, having users from scientists and scholars and the systematic management of libraries by a committee of manager, treasurer and librarian; and in spite of being contemporary with Medieval in west, orientalists call Samanid era the age of "cultural renaissance" in Iran.