National Library of Peru, National library in San Borja district, Lima, Peru
The National Library of Peru is a documentation facility in San Borja holding over seven million books, manuscripts, newspapers, photographs, and digital materials across multiple floors. Each section is organized to serve different collection types and research needs.
Founded in 1821 by José de San Martín, the institution began with his personal collection and later relocated to a modern building on Avenida Javier Prado. It grew to become the country's largest repository of documents and records.
The library holds early printed works and colonial-era documents that show how Peru documented its knowledge through different periods. Visitors can see how the nation's thinking and record-keeping evolved over time.
Visitors need a reader card to access the collections, which can be obtained on-site. It is best to arrive early in the day, as reading rooms can become crowded during peak hours.
During the War of the Pacific, Chilean forces removed most of the collection, reducing it from 56,000 works to just 378. This dramatic loss remains a defining moment in the institution's history.
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