National Library of Guinea-Bissau, national library, university library, public library

The National Library of Guinea-Bissau is the country's largest public library, located in central Bissau. It holds around 70,000 items, including books, manuscripts, and documents from both the colonial period and after independence.

Portugal decreed in 1952 that overseas territories should have national libraries with legal deposit; the measure reached Portuguese Guinea on 11 March 1970, creating the Biblioteca Nacional da Guiné in Bissau. After independence in 1974, the Biblioteca Pública do INEP inherited its collection and legal-deposit role. The 1998 civil war caused losses estimated at 35% of the collection, and international aid supported recovery after 2000.

The library keeps the legal deposit system of Guinea-Bissau, receiving copies of publications issued in the country. Its sections of periodicals, monographs and colonial-period documents preserve the written record of Portuguese Guinea and the independent nation.

The library is located in central Bissau and is easy to visit, with simple architecture and spaces designed for reading and research. Students and researchers can access materials on site or inquire about available resources.

Since 2011, the library has operated an American Corner, the only place in the country where the United States maintains a cultural presence through books and information. Visiting this section offers insight into American culture that is otherwise rarely found locally.