National Library of Colombia, National library and cultural monument in Las Nieves district, Bogotá, Colombia.
The National Library of Colombia is the country's official library, housed in a four-story building with an Art Deco facade at the corner of Calle 24 and Carrera 5 in central Bogotá. The collection spans historical manuscripts, rare books, and printed works covering several centuries of the country's recorded history.
The institution was founded in 1777 by Viceroy Manuel de Guirior, using books left behind by Jesuit communities after they were expelled from Spanish territories by order of King Charles III. The building was later declared a national monument in recognition of its place in the country's history.
The library carries the nation's name and draws students, researchers, and curious visitors who come to read original documents ranging from the colonial period to the present day. Inside the reading rooms, the work is quiet and focused, with people consulting handwritten manuscripts alongside printed books.
The library is open on weekdays and Saturdays, though it is worth checking hours in advance since holidays and special events can affect regular operations. The building sits in the heart of Bogotá and is easy to reach by public transport from most parts of the city.
The library is considered one of the oldest public cultural institutions on the American continent, founded before Colombia even existed as an independent country. Among its holdings are handwritten colonial-era documents that researchers can still consult in their original form today.
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