Astan Quds Razavi Central Library

It is the most important and the largest library in the Islamic world. This historical library was founded in 363 A.H. /973 A.D., about 1027 years ago. There is a copy of the Holy Quran preserved in the library endowed by Muhammad ibn Kathir, the minister of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni dating back to the year 393 A.H./1002 A.D.

At present this library is furnished with half a million copies of books, and can store about five million copies in its spacious stores. The available books are in 46 currently spoken languages including 32485 rare manuscripts, 1000 albums and 36000 microfilms from the rare manuscripts of home and abroad.
There are 12000 hand written copies of the Holy Quran in the library. This is the largest collection of handwritten copies of the Holy Quran in the world. Some of the handwritten copies of the Holy Quran are attributed to be written by Shi'ite Holy Imams like Imam Ali (A.S.),Imam Hasan(A.S.), Imam Husain(A.S.),Imam Sajjad(A.S.) and Imam Reza (A.S.) on the deer skin. The rare collection of the handwritten copies of the Holy Quran are displayed in the "Quranic Treasure Museum" situated within the precincts of the holy shrine.
The extraordinary preciousness of the exquisite copies of the Glorious Quran and that of matchless manuscripts as well as printed books preserved in this library have provided universal fame and credit for this cultural centre throughout the world.
A three - storeyed new complex for the library constructed on an area of 11000 sq meters is also considered as the miracle of Islamic architecture has been recently inaugurated and occupies an area of 28000 sq.meters. It is located at the northern side of bast Shaykh Toosi. (known as Bast-i Bala i-e Upper Bast). The architecture of new complex of the library is completely based on beautiful and intrinsic Islamic style. There are different reading rooms alloted for men, women and children in this library which is also equipped with and audio-visual room, as well as rooms for men and women researchers.

It is equipped with all the necessary sophisticated equipments needed for preserving the manuscripts. The library is centrally computerised with well furnished reading rooms, laboratories, treasure for rare manuscripts completely immune to all forms of disasters, conference hall, various specialized sections for newspapers and magazines, archives, calligraphy, traditional book - binding and casing, illuminating (gilding), painting (miniaturing) and designing of books.
The administrative organization of this library covers the following offices and departments.

(1) Department of Public Affairs.
This office directly supervises the finacial and security of the library.
The subjected sections of this departments are as follows.
(a) the secretariat, (b) the personnel section, accounts and supply departments. (c) section of the auditorium.
The auditorium is equipped and furnished with modern audio-visual systems and apparatus for translation purposes. The auditorium has been constructed and decorated on the basis of the international standards, and has capacity for an audience of 761 people.

A series of the finest plaster work and illumination done by the skillful craftsmasters employed in the Astan Quds Razavi can be found and observed on the walls of this auditorium.

(2) Department of Documents and Manuscripts.
This unit has been organized with the purpose of providing facilities for the researchers who are in quest of original documents and manuscripts. In this department valuable sources such as scriptures, deeds, microfilms, archive press, manuscripts are carefully preserved.
The following sections are under the direction of this office:
(a) Book Decorations Section (b) Press and Document Archive Section.

This section has been organized since 1980 and at present 16700 journals and periodicals and more than 220000 documents such as different charters (farmans), scrolls, petitions and official papers in connection with Astan Quds Razavi are carefully preserved here

(c) Manuscripts Section.
This section contains 32485 rare manuscripts and 36000 microfilms from the rare manuscripts of home and abroad. The catalogue of the manuscripts preserved in this section are compiled and published in 16 volumes.
The computer's informatic programmes related to these manuscripts have been recently prepared in order to provide facilities for the visiting researchers.
(d) Filmtek (photo and microfilm services) Section.
(e) Books and Documents Preservation Section.
All the books and documetns which come to the central library are carefully tested by the experts and in case those copies are damaged, renovations are implemented by the experts of this section.
Wet and dry bulb hygrometers constantly operate and control the air condition of the library book stores.

(3) Public Library Department.
The sections of this department are as follows:
(a) Audio-Visual Section
There are two rooms for men and women who like to take advantage of this modern technological system. At present about a hundred people can receive service regarding this technology existing in this section.
(b) Book Circulation Section:
This section is fully equipped with computer systems to provide facilities for its visiting members.

(c) Women's Reading Rooms:
There are three reading rooms in this section for rendering library services to women clients.
(d) Men's Reading Rooms:

This section has four reading rooms for men and the computer system of this section is at the applicants disposal.
(4). Librarianship Services Department.
The official duty of this department is to choose, place order, buy books and prepare the necessary indexes.
This department covers the following sections:
(a) Providing Books Section.
(b) Cataloguing Section.
(c) Research and Planning Section.
(d) Information Section With Automation Services.

(5) Affiliated Libraries Department.
The function of this department is restricted to managing and accomplishing the official affairs of the 12 affiliated libraries to the Astan Quds Razavi. These affiliated libraries are situated in the cities of Mashhad Tehran, Yazd, Kerman, Rafsanjan and Buroojerd.

The Worship Room.
This place of praying has been all around decorated with latticed wood work on an area of about 120 Sq.metres. The netted designs look like those of the sacred tombs. In the middle of this worship room a date-palm made of wood has been planted in commemoration of the pillars installed by the Holy Prophet of Islam (S.A.W.) in the first mosque erected for the Muslims in Madina.

The cafetaria for rendering the necessory services to the visitors is situated in the lower part of the new building.
The central heating as well as ventilation systems installed in this building and the existence of fire-extinguishers here are all helpful in case of emergency.

A completely modern system of telelift regularly operates here to transfer books from the related stores to other part of the library.