Köprülü Library, Ottoman library in Eminönü district, Istanbul, Turkey
Köprülü Library is a historic library in Istanbul with a distinctive building featuring marble columns and alternating patterns of stone and brick work crowned by a dome on an octagonal base. The T-shaped layout creates separate reading and storage areas for its collection of approximately 3,800 manuscripts in Turkish, Arabic, and Persian languages.
The library was established in 1678 following the will of Grand Vizier Köprülü Mehmed Pasha, one of the Ottoman Empire's most influential officials. It opened with a modest staff of three librarians, a bookbinder, and a caretaker to manage the growing collection and preserve knowledge.
The library was built as a gift to the city by a high-ranking Ottoman official to preserve knowledge for scholars. Visitors today can see how these rooms continue to serve readers and researchers who come to study.
The library sits on Divanyolu Street near the tomb of Sultan Mahmud II and is easily reached on foot from major areas of the old city. Access to the interior is limited and mainly available for serious researchers, so it is best to inquire ahead before visiting.
The building uses natural light from carefully placed windows to illuminate the valuable manuscripts and ornamental designs on the ceiling and vaults. This thoughtful lighting design was quite advanced for a library of its era.
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