Dare to imagine a library not just as a repository of books but as a vibrant hub of life. This is the Rami Library F3 Library of Libraries Hakkı Tarık Us Hall.
The Rami Library is not just Istanbul’s largest library. It is one of the leading libraries in Europe. It stands as a testament to history embracing the future.
Originally built as the Rami Barracks in the 18th century the structure served the military until the 1960s. Grand Vizier Rami Mehmet Pasha erected the barracks during the reign of Sultan Mustafa III. After careful restoration starting in 2014 it reopened as a library in January 2023.
Now the Rami Library is a sustainable complex designed to meet cultural educational and artistic needs.
The Rami Library boasts a seating capacity for 4200 people. It covers an enclosed area of 36000 square meters. The green area totals 51000 square meters making it the world’s largest library with an enclosed landscape area. A 1000 square meter artificial pond sits amidst the trees.
The library caters to a wide range of users. There are special sections for babies children youths and adults. It also features specialized libraries including an Atatürk Library and a Manuscript Library. The Atatürk Studies Specialization Library is the largest of its kind in Turkey. It holds over 20000 books.
The Rami Library also provides modern library services. These include 24-hour study rooms an accessible section and group study halls.
The Rami Library holds Turkey’s first Biosphere Sustainable Museum Certificate. It adheres to sustainability principles. This includes its restoration techniques infrastructure and support for local culture.
Within the Manuscript Library lies the Şifahane or restoration unit. Here experts conserve manuscripts and rare printed works. They meticulously undertake restoration work in the library’s laboratory.
Throughout the year the Rami Library hosts cultural events and exhibitions. It aims to be a premier attraction for culture history and art.
The Rami Library is more than a building it is a living library. It is a space where the past informs the future where knowledge meets nature and where everyone is welcome. It embodies the union of society with culture and art. The Rami Library truly offers a brand new library experience.