Located in the Eminonu District of Istanbul Province, at the entrance of Kapali Carsi [Covered Bazaar], construction of Nuruosmaniye Kulliyesi was started in 1749 during Sultan Mahmut I (1730-1754) and completed one year after his death by Sultan Osman III (1754-1757). The architect of the building is Master Builder Sinan. This baroque-styled kulliye was comprised of mosque, madrasah, imaret [facility to distribute food to the needy for free], library, tomb, fountain, sebil [free water dispenser] and shops.
Nuruosmaniye Library is a unique example of baroque style. Being composed of two parts, center of the library is covered with a dome carried on four pillars and a corridor of arcade surrounding it. The dome is buttressed with two half-domes. The arcades are covered with mirrored vaults. Total of its 30 windows are supported with plasters which is a major feature of baroque style. There is a basement floor underneath the library. Having a complex plan, one can reach the library through the staircase from the outer courtyard. A basement was built underneath the library against humidity and upper floor is reserved for reading hall and storage. The library has two doors, one of which is humayun [imperial] gate. An epitaph is inscribe on the gate saying “Seek for Ilm[knowledge] from cradle to grave” in Arabic.
When the library first opened, it had total of 18 personnel, which were 1 Nazir-I Kutub, six Hafiz-I Kutub, six Mustahfiz, three Bevvab, one Mucellid-Muzehhib and one Ferras. The charter of the library undersigne by Sultan Osman III is still in Topkapi Palace Museum. Including the books of Sultan Mahmut I and Sultan Osman III and 79 manuscripts of Bayram Pasha, it contains manuscripts. Moreover, library has also a new works collection. The books in the library are organized by the name of author and the title of work; and Dewey Decimal Classification method is in classifying.
Tue, Jul 21, 2009
Where to Visit