104 years ago, on July 10, 1920, the National Library of Albania was founded. The Library holds the distinction of being the country’s first state-owned, public, and secular institution. Its establishment amidst the ruins of a newly independent Albania, that lay in ruins, ravaged by the wars of independence, the Balkan Wars, and World War I, underscored the passionate commitment of Albania’s founding generation to fostering Albania’s national identity by supporting its intellectual growth.

The library’s historical journey began with the library fund of the Albanian Literary Commission, established in 1917 in Shkodër as a joint Albanian-Austro-Hungarian enterprise. This initial collection laid the foundation for what would become one of the richest repositories of Albania’s cultural heritage. In 1920, the library’s holdings were centralized in Tirana under the Ministry of Education, growing to encompass 6,000 volumes by October 10, 1922. Today, its collection has expanded exponentially, exceeding one million volumes, encompassing a wide array of subjects ranging from history and literature to science and the arts.

Following World War II, the National Library experienced significant growth in its Albanological collections. This period saw the acquisition of private libraries and collections belonging to prominent cultural figures, which enriched its archives and broadened its scope as the custodian of Albania’s written cultural legacy.

Following the collapse of the communist regime, the National Library entered a new era. Today, the library not only serves as a repository of books and manuscripts but also plays a crucial role in digitizing its collections to make them accessible online, thereby preserving and promoting Albanian cultural heritage globally.

As a cornerstone of Albania’s cultural landscape, the National Library continues to uphold its mission of gathering, processing, restoring, and preserving the written treasures of the Albanian people. It stands not only as a symbol of national pride but also as a beacon of intellectual freedom and scholarly pursuit, inspiring generations to explore and appreciate Albania’s rich literary and cultural heritage.