National Library of the Argentine Republic

Biblioteca Nacional de la República Argentina

The National Library, designed in 1961 by Clorindo Testa, Francisco Bullrich and Alicia Cazzaniga.
Country	Argentina
Type	National Library
Established	1810
Location	Calle Agüero 2502, Buenos Aires barrio of Recoleta in Buenos Aires
Website	Library web site

The National Library of the Argentine Republic (Spanish: Biblioteca Nacional de la República Argentina) is the largest library in Argentina. It is located in the barrio of Recoleta in Buenos Aires.

Originally named the Public Library of Buenos Aires and founded in September 1810 by decree of the first Government Junta of the May Revolution first Government Junta, it later became the country’s only national library when it redefined its mission in 1884 and formally changed its name to the National Library of Argentina. The first headquarters, an old 18th century mansion that belonged to the Jesuits, was located on the corner of Moreno Street and Peru Street, within the historic Jesuit site known as the Manzana de Las Luces.

Mariano Moreno, the first director, prompted the creation of the Library as part of a package of measures aimed at forging a public alert towards political and civic life. Moreover, the foundation of the Public Library was laid upon the vindication of public education and instruction as a means for building an autonomous country. The initial collection was interwoven with the struggle for independence, and was gathered from the expropriated personal collection of Bishop Orellana as well as the patriotic donations of the Cabildo, the Real Colegio San Carlos, , and Manuel Belgrano. The library’s first chief directors were Dr. Saturnino Segurola and Fray Cayetano Rodriguez, both men of the Church. They were followed by Chorroarín and Manuel Moreno (brother and biographer of the founder). The lineage of directors which followed is still considered a crucial part of the Argentine intellectual and historic fabric: Marcos Sastre, Carlos Tejedor, José Mármol, Vicente Quesada, Manuel Trelles, and José Antonio Wilde.