Library
Bucharest Metropolitan Library
Bucharest Metropolitan Library is a library.
About Bucharest Metropolitan Library
Overview
The Bucharest Metropolitan Library (Biblioteca Metropolitană București, BMB) is the public library network serving Bucharest and Ilfov County, Romania. Its mission is to facilitate free and non-discriminatory access to fundamental cultural rights, acting as a community center that supports information, research, education, and recreation for residents. The institution functions as a modern network of 31 to 34 branches distributed across the city's sectors, providing access to over one million titles including books, films, music albums, and board games.
History & Founding
The library's origins are traced back to the Metropolitan Library of Wallachia, established in May 1359. In 1831, under the Organic Regulation, the Library of the Sava College was founded, inheriting manuscripts from the Metropolitan Library and collections from figures like Constantin Cantacuzino and the Brâncoveanu dynasty. The modern institution was re-established as the Bucharest Municipal Library in 1935 by the Bucharest City Hall. It operated under various names, including the Mihail Sadoveanu Municipal Library, before being reorganized into the Bucharest Metropolitan Library in 2002 following the Library Law.
Building & Architecture
The central headquarters of the Bucharest Metropolitan Library is the Mihail Sadoveanu Library, located at 4 Tache Ionescu Street in Sector 1. While the sources confirm this address as the main seat, the detailed architectural style of the current building is not explicitly described in the available documentation. The library operates as a decentralized network, with its 31 to 34 branches spread across the six sectors of Bucharest, each serving as a local community hub equipped with computers and free Wi-Fi access.
Collection Highlights & Notable Holdings
The library holds a collection of approximately 1,092,629 items, comprising over 1 million books, nearly 20,000 CDs, and thousands of DVDs and board games. Historically, the collection was enriched by manuscripts and printed books from the Metropolitan Library of Bucharest, the Academy of Sava, and donations from notable figures such as Patriarch Chrysanthus of Jerusalem and Domnitors Constantin Brâncoveanu and the Mavrocordat family. The library also maintains a digital library, 'Biblioteca Digitală a Bucureștilor,' and offers access to periodical collections and special heritage funds.
Significance & Services
As a major cultural institution, the Bucharest Metropolitan Library serves a population of nearly 1.9 million people. It provides essential public services including free internet access, loan services for books and media, and educational programs. The library plays a crucial role in preserving the bibliographic heritage of Bucharest, having been the first to implement a systematic national bibliography in the 19th century. It continues to evolve by offering innovative services such as art libraries, foreign language sections, and interactive spaces for children and adults.
Plan your visit
Bucharest Metropolitan Library
- Website
- www.bibmet.ro