National Library of Brazil

National Library of Brazil ( port. Biblioteca Nacional do Brasil ) - a library in Rio de Janeiro .

National Library of Brazil
port. Biblioteca nacional do brasil
A country
Founded by	1810
Fund
Fund volume	9 million units
Other information
Director	Renato Lessa
Web site	bn.br/portal/

The library, founded in 1810 by the Portuguese king Juan VI , is located in Cinelandia Square ( Piazza Floriano Square ). Nearby are the National Museum of Fine Arts and the City Theater .

This is a public library, considered the largest in Latin America and the seventh in the world ^[1] . Its collections contain over 9 million books; as well as a huge number of periodicals, icons, music. Here you can find samples of all the editions published in the country, but the most valuable is a large collection of ancient books, maps and manuscripts dating from the period of Portuguese colonial rule. In addition, many historical photographs of Africa, Europe and North America are preserved in the library archive.

The library is based on a branch of the National Library of Portugal . Fleeing the invasion of Napoleon I in 1807, the royal court took with him to Rio de Janeiro and the Royal Library, which later became the basis of the National Library of Brazil. At first, only scholars who received special permission from the king had access to it, but in 1814 the National Library was open to the public. When in 1821 the royal court returned to Lisbon, it took with it only a small part of the library ^[2] .

The main meeting remained in Rio. Since then, it has been replenished with mandatory copies of publications issued in Brazil , as well as voluntary donations and own acquisitions.

The facade of the library is decorated with a portico with Corinthian columns, and the interior is striking in its lush decoration and beautiful lighting. In the design of the halls used various varieties of marble, combined with wrought iron railings of stairs and railings. The building was built in the neoclassical style in 1905-1910, according to the design of Souza Aguyar.

After the city lost its capital functions in Rio de Janeiro, the NBB remained in Rio. The National Library of Brazil is currently the largest in Latin America and the seventh largest in the world. The building of this institution is an architectural monument.