The National Library of Iran: a new building and a new future.

National libraries have a leading role in the development of the library profession. They are, by virtue of their unique position in a country, generally the only library able to fulfil nationwide functions on behalf of the government and the country. They are an important component in guiding national library planning, and in monitoring library progress across the spectrum of library and educational needs. They are often the country's centre for current statistical information on library services, library use and collection building. Of course, they are also the monitor and custodian of the nation's published output and of national bibliography and related activities. These roles are carried out through the establishment, development and/or implementation of a range of duties and activities such as acquisition and preservation of information resources, organisation and dissemination of information, and development of different national standards. All such responsibilities and activities can best be fulfilled if the national library benefits from a well-designed and comprehensive building. That is why many governments support construction of magnificent buildings for the national library. To some governments and nations the national library building has a symbolic and inspirational value.

In March 2005 Iran celebrated an auspicious event in the development of its library resources and its efforts to create a modern concept of national librarianship in an Islamic country. In Tehran, the capital of Iran, the long-awaited new building to house the National Library of Iran (NLI) was declared open by President Khatami, head of the Islamic Republic. This is an event of far-reaching importance extending beyond the symbolism clearly present on this occasion. This article considers the development and context of the idea of an Iranian national library. An assessment is offered of the direction future developments might follow.

Defining the Role of the National Library of Iran

Legislation passed in 1990 by Iran's parliament, the Majlis, stipulates that the National Library (NLI) shall acquire, preserve, organise, and disseminate information in three major areas. These objectives are to be achieved by means of concentrating acquisitions within three areas as follows:

* by creating a comprehensive collection of national publications produced within the country, as well as by collecting works published by Iranians abroad, irrespective of the format and language(s);

* by acquiring scholarly publications in the field of Iranian and Islamic studies from around the world in all major languages; and

* by developing a general reference collection of overseas publications for public general inquiries and services.

Apart from collection building, the legislation assigns a number of duties to NLI. These also cover a wide range of functions: the law requires NLI to

* undertake research projects and plans for the advancement of library and information science;

* adopt measures to conduct and facilitate research and scholarship 'in all areas of national culture';

* provide consultation to libraries, oversee, guide, and provide them with technical services, planning, and organisation; and

* suggest appropriate methods of coordination of services and activities of public and special libraries for the purpose of facilitating the flow of information in the community. (1)

The array of the functions that the 1990 legislation assigns to NLI elevates its status to that of a real national library in a modern sense. This is a thoroughly new experience for a library that during almost its entire history has played little more than the role of a public non-lending library with special collections of old manuscripts and limited collections of foreign publications of Iranian studies.

Iranian Library History before 1979 and the Origins of the National Library

Although Iranian writers have frequently referred to a glamorous history of national scholarship and libraries, extending back far into the past, few have survived into modern times to connect the traditional era to the present time. Modern libraries have a relatively brief history in Iran, and librarianship as a distinct professional discipline has an even shorter history. The Iranian National Library owes its origin to the initiative of enlightened private citizens who installed a small library in Tehran at the threshold of the 1905 constitutional revolution. The library was later called 'Maaref [=Education] Public Library' and was located in the premises of the Tehran Polytechnic. The purpose of the founders was essentially an educational endeavour to promote popular literacy and culture. Similar public libraries were established by the enterprise of private individuals in the provincial capitals in the following years. The role of the…