During later periods, although libraries were generally under the administrative control of the foundations, some libraries were established as independent institutions. The first library in this category was the “Köprülü Library”, founded by Köprülü Fazıl Ahmet Pasha in İstanbul in 1678. As the empire flourished, new libraries were established in many places in Anatolia. At present, some of the libraries which were founded by prominent statesmen and clergymen of the times and went on functioning through support by foundations still keep their collections. The Kütüphane-i Osmaniye, (Ottoman Library) which was founded in 1884 and still serves the public under the name “Beyazıt State Library” was the first library built by the state during the Ottoman era.

Following the formation of the TGNA Government in 1920, a “Culture Department” was established within the Ministry of National   Education   and   libraries   were  attached  to this 

department. Upon the approval of the “Law of Unification of Education”  on  March  3,  1924, all foundation libraries were put under the administration of the Ministry of National Education. The “National Library” which still serves the public today, was established in Ankara in 1946. Library departments were opened in three universities in 1950s, and these departments offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in library science.

The number of public, children and manuscript libraries in the country totalled 1,286 at the end of 2005. They are all attached to the General Directorate of Libraries and Publications under the Ministry of Culture. A total of 20,706,526 readers benefited from the libraries offering a total of 12,984,801 books in 2005. There are also 62 mobile libraries serving citizens who either live in remote towns and villages or who have no access to public libraries for various reasons. Furthermore, various government institutions, municipalities, NGOs, real as well as judicial persons, schools of various levels and universities run libraries as well.

With the objective of providing prompt and effective public access to the cultural accumulation through public libraries in line with contemporary technological developments, a “Library Automation Project” was initiated in 1997 and work is going on under the name e-KGM. When this project is completed, all libraries will be able to use an internet-based automation system.

In addition to this project, a total of 100 libraries, including 81 provincial public libraries, 18 district public libraries and the İstanbul Beyazıt State Library, have started to offer free of charge internet services to their member users within the framework of the Internet Access Centers Project of Public Libraries.