National Library of Iran: establishment and early developmentBased on archival documents

To investigate the process of establishment and early development of the National Library of Iran

 Data was collected from archival documents and library resources
Findings and

Expansion of relations with the West in the later Qajarid period inspired Iranians to adopt European nations’ culturarl initiatives. Introduction of printing technoloty, establishminet of European style schools and higher education institutions, the increase of the educated population facilitated the foundation of a national library. An act passed the Parliament 1937 established the National Library as a depertment under the Ministry of Education. The core collections of the newly established National Library were the collection of the Darolfonoon polytechnic and the collection of the Maaref public library.  Two prominent figures instrumental in the formation of the Library were the Education Minister, Ali Asghar Hekmat (1896-1980) and Mehdi Bayani (1906-1967) who headed the Library for the next 25 years. Also a modest building was designed by the French architect André Godard (1881-1965).