Brief History
The Library of the Turkish Historical Society was established in April 1931, coinciding with the founding of the Society itself. Since its inception, the Turkish Historical Society has devoted considerable effort to enhancing its library, which serves as a crucial resource for the study of history.
Since its inception, the Society initially conducted its activities in the former Turkish Heart People Houses building. By the end of 1940, it relocated to a designated section within the Faculty of Languages, History, and Geography. However, due to the continuous expansion of its library and increasing scope of activities, this location became inadequate. Consequently, on November 12, 1967, the Society moved to its current modern facility, the design of which was created by Mr. Turgut Cansever.
Atatürk, who maintained a keen interest in the Society’s activities from its inception until the end of his life, provided both moral and material support for the establishment and development of its library, which represents the greatest support of the Society’s work.
In 1933, pursuant to Atatürk’s directive, the manuscript collection and approximately 10,000 volumes of books and journals on history and archaeology from the Constantinople Hellenic Literary Society Library (Syllogos), which had previously been relocated from Istanbul to Ankara, were transferred to the Society’s library. Additionally, that same year, the library’s collection was further enhanced by the acquisition of nearly 3,000 volumes from the Turkish History Council’s library. Subsequently, in 1934, the Society acquired the collections of Zayti Ferencz and Dr. Reşit Galib; in 1935, the collection of Prof. Yusuf Akçura; and in 1939, the collections of Halil Ethem Eldem, Prof. Muhammed Tanci, and Cevriye-İbrahim Artuk. Among the presidents and members of the Society, the collections of Osman Ferit Sağlam, Ord. Prof. Şemseddin Günaltay, Tevfik Bıyıklıoğlu, Faik Reşit Unat, Ali Galip Pekel, Esad Fuad Tugay, Haluk Cemil Tanju, Prof. Dr. Zehra Alagöz, Cemal Arif Alagöz, Ord. Prof. Yusuf Hikmet Bayur, Prof. Dr. Ali Sevim, and Prof. Dr. Şerif Baştav, as well as selected works from Ord. Prof. Mükremin Halil Yinanç’s library, were donated. Additionally, collections from Amb. Bilâl Şimsir and Faruk Küçük were also contributed.
The principal private collections include: Halil Edhem Eldem’s collection of Turkish-Islamic inscriptions, which was donated; a collection of Turkish-Islamic inscriptions acquired through purchase from Zeki Oral; and a collection of surveys by Yusuf Akyurt and Master Architect Ali Saim Ülgen, which were also acquired through purchase.
Collection
The collection of the Turkish Historical Society’s Library comprises scholarly sources of information published in the domains of Turkish history, the history of Türkiye, and related fields.
Information resources available in the library
• Book
• Periodicals (Journal, Newspaper)
• Map
• Manuscript
• Unpublished copyright work
• Photocopy
• Microfilm
• Microfiche
• CD / DVD
• Estampage
• Movies (Documentary)
• Tableaux
• Reliefs
• Translated Work
• E-Book
Regulations
User Regulations
The Turkish Historical Society’s Library is accessible to university staff, graduate and doctoral students, researchers affiliated with public and private institutions, as well as independent researchers. Additionally, access to the library is granted exclusively to final-year university students.
Regulations for Accessing Special Collections
To access manuscripts, copyrighted works, translated works, microfilms, and microfiches within the Library’s special collections, researchers must adhere to the following procedures:
Researchers are required to submit an application form detailing their academic status, research or thesis topic, and contact information.
Application forms may also be submitted via email.
Upon completion of the application form, researchers may access digital copies of manuscripts, microfilms, and microfiches available in the library.
Manuscripts without digital copies must be used under the supervision of library staff while wearing gloves and masks.
Translated and copyrighted works, which cannot be copied, may be accessed under the supervision of library staff while wearing gloves and masks.
Requests from institutions or organizations for the use and reproduction of manuscripts are received with an official letter.
Regulations for the Reading Hall
In the Reading Hall, the following activities are prohibited: engaging in loud conversations or using cell phones in a manner that disturbs other users, bringing food and beverages, and smoking tobacco products.
The Reading Hall is open from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM on weekdays. Requests for books from the storage room are processed between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM, and from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM.
Photocopying is not permitted for manuscripts, copyrighted and translated works, rare printed materials, items subject to deterioration, encyclopedias, maps, and newspapers.
Turkish Historical Society Library does not provide loaning services.
Working Hours
Reader services are available from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM on weekdays. The book depository is closed from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM, during which time book requests cannot be processed. Researchers may use the reading hall during the lunch break.
Contact
Addreds:Hacettepe Mahallesi Kızılay Caddesi No: 1 06230 Altındağ Ankara/TÜRKİYE
Phone: 0312 310 23 68
e-mail: kutuphane@ttk.gov.tr
Technical Services
Supply
Information resources pertinent to the Society’s field of study, whether published domestically or internationally, are monitored and acquired through purchase, exchange, or donation. Additionally, resource requests from Society members and researchers are reviewed and considered for inclusion in the Library’s collection.
Publication exchange is a critical component of the Library’s collection development. The Society engages in a publication exchange program with 219 universities, academies, institutes, research centers, scientific institutions, and libraries across 61 countries that focus on Turkish and Turkish history and related disciplines. Furthermore, publication exchange activities are conducted with the libraries of 12 universities, institutes, and institutions within Türkiye.
Materials deemed appropriate for the collection may also be accepted as donations from individuals or legal entities to the Library of the Turkish Historical Society.
Cataloging and Library Automation System
The library commenced the use of a non-online computer-based catalog, which was developed in 1992. This catalog, created by ISAM, involved the digitization of information from the card catalog. Concurrently, the card catalog system was maintained. Since 1999, the library has adopted a library automation system. The following is a list of the library automation systems utilized to date:
A program used by ISAM (1992-1998)
YORDAM (1999-2010)
MİLAS (2011-2013)
LIBRID (2014-
Detailed data entries of the information resources acquired by the library are recorded in the LIBRID Library Management System, adhering to AACR2 rules and the MARC21 format. Since 2018, bibliographic descriptions of works in non-Latin alphabets have been included with both their transcriptions and original scripts. The system’s modules for provisioning, cataloging, periodicals, loaning, and OPAC are actively utilized. Additionally, the RFID security strip, implemented in 2014, has significantly enhanced the processes of inventory management, locating misplaced items, and managing internal loans.
Reader Services
Reader’s Hall
The Library of the Turkish Historical Society provides services to researchers within a space of approximately 1,200 square meters, encompassing both its storage areas and reader’s hall.
According to the closed shelf system, our library provides a research hall equipped with 24 single-seater desks, 16 double-seater desks, 2 six-seater desks, and 1 eight-seater desk, accommodating a total of 50 individuals. Additionally, the library includes 6 single study rooms and a microfilm room.
A book elevator facilitates the transfer of materials between the three-story warehouse and the research hall. The library is equipped with 8 internet-connected computers for researchers, and it houses a range of reference resources, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, bibliographies, and manuscript catalogs. Additionally, the library maintains a collection of serial works and periodicals of the Society, such as Höyük, Belleten, and Belgeler, as well as the most recent issues of 96 journals subscribed to by the Library.
In the hall, services are provided to meet the needs of researchers, including reference and promotional services, user training, catalog scanning, access to an in-house IP-controlled database, and full-text access to e-books and e-journals.
Domestic and international information requests are addressed via telephone, document transmission, and email. Since 2013, the library catalog has provided access to digital copies of approximately 15,000 rare printed materials, periodicals, maps, and other items, originally in Turkish and various other languages, that have been digitized from the Library’s collection.
The articles published in the journals Belleten, Belgeler, and Höyük are available as open access through the Society’s Web Page.
Microfilm, Microfiche, Manuscript Digital Copy Request Form
Photocopy / Digital Copy Service
Researchers may utilize complimentary photocopying and scanning services, provided that their use of library resources adheres to the provisions of the Copyright Law (Law No. 5846 on Intellectual and Artistic Works). The library offers these services through 2 photocopy machines for printing and 4 scanning devices for obtaining digital copies.
Internet Service
Our library offers wireless internet access for researchers, which can be utilized with personal laptops, tablets, smartphones, and other mobile devices. However, the library disclaims responsibility for the security and confidentiality of online transactions conducted using this network.
Group and Individual Visits
Visits by faculty members and students from university architecture departments, as well as individual visit applications from both domestic and international locations to see and explore the Society’s building, are arranged. Information about the institution is provided during these visits.
Additionally, visits by primary and secondary school teachers and students are organized to familiarize them with the Society’s activities, library resources, and publications, with relevant information about the Society also being provided.
Internship
Students from the Department of Information and Document Management and the Department of History at universities are permitted to undertake internships within our Library.
Requests for internships should be submitted to our Library for evaluation via official letter, petition, or email.
Principles and Agreement for the Acceptance of Donated Materials to the Turkish Historical Society Library
Electronic Services
Our library collection includes 1,007 e-books in foreign languages. Additionally, we offer access to the following databases:
Brill Online Journals Collection: This database provides access to all journals published by Brill Press from 2021 to 2023 (approximately 340 copy)
Encyclopedia of the Medieval Chronicle: This resource consolidates the latest research in chronicle studies across various disciplines and scholarly traditions. Chronicles are historical records composed and read by educated individuals in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages. The Encyclopedia was last updated in 2021.
Access to these electronic resources is available in full text and is IP-controlled, and can be utilized from the reader’s hall of our Library.
