Name of the Library: The Organization of Libraries, Museums and Center of Deeds of Astan Quds Razavi
Parent Organisation: Astan Quds Razavi, Mashhad, Iran
Street Address: Bast (Sanctuary) Shaykh Tousi
Postal Address: P.O. Box: 91735-177
Telephone : 0098-51-32219553
Web Address: http://www.aqlibrary.org
Library Email: info@aqlibrary.org
Type of Library: Main Library
Population served: 3,000,000
Project Type: New Building
Size (square metres): 28800 square meters
Date of Completion of present new building: 1995 but started in 1457 AD
Architect: Reza Deyshidi of Astan Quds Razavi Construction Company, Mashhad, Iran
Description
Distinctive Features and detailed description
The Central Library of Astan Quds Razavi situated in the holy city of Mashhad is the largest library in Iran was established in 974 AD but was opened for public use in 1457 AD. It is considered as the leading oldest library in the world which is still functioning on a grand scale.
1: Adjoined and belongs to the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.) beside the Central Library have established fifty constituent affiliated libraries in Mashhad and different cities and towns in Iran.
2: Preserving very old and rare manuscripts, artefacts and museum objects and some of them date back to more than one thousand years old.
3: Preserving thousands of exquisite and precious manuscripts of the Holy Quran, rare manuscripts and old printed books which is considered as the largest collection of its kind in the world.
4: Possessing a vast collection of printed books in different fields of study including Islamic studies and humanities.
5: The glorious and magnificent building of the Central Library is unique and exclusive in its kind in the history of Islamic art.
6: Accomplished with sophisticated facilities and modern equipment for improving and upgrading the services offered to the people, and also preserving the deeds, manuscripts and precious sources of the library.
7: Holding rich collection of historical deeds and some of them date back to 15th century and old and rare periodicals published in Iran since 1846.
8: Administering 12 grand specialized museums located in the vicinity of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.).These museums are now considered as largest and widely viewed museums in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Publications
The main duty of publication unit of the central library is as follow:
– The publication of the indexes of the manuscripts
– The quarterly scholarly journal “Library and Information Science”
– Daneshvars (The newsletter of the library)
– Brochures
– Instructional pamphlets
Awards, case studies, further information
Selected by the Open Education Database (OEDB) as among the 20 Libraries that have changed the world (2012)
Three of the collections preserved in the central library is registered in the list of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
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