National Library of Santiago

Within its collections it is possible to find an edict from 1516 issued by the Kings of Spain so that the conquistadors could govern America and the books left in 1767 by the Company of Jesus, after their expulsion from America by the Spanish crown.

A little history ...

The National Library is one of the first republican institutions in the country and, as such, has the seal and founding impulse of the founding fathers.

Bernardo O'Higgins helped consolidate the first steps of the young library, arranging the transfer of the old collections that had belonged to the Jesuits and that were located at the University of San Felipe. In addition, O'Higgins appointed Manuel de Salas as director, who, supported by Brother Camilo Henríquez, committed all his effort and will to increase the collections of the nascent library. In 1820 the Legal Deposit was created, which  It forced printers to leave a copy of each book, magazine or newspaper published in Chile in the National Library. This rule was perfected in 1834 with the Literary Property Law

In 1913, the first stone of the marvelous neoclassical style building that is today in the Center of Santiago was laid, upon completing one hundred years of life of the institution. The design was carried out by architect Gustavo García del Postigo, who spared no expense for his work, as a way to demonstrate the transformation of Santiago from a small-town city into an important metropolis. However, lack of resources forced the building to be inaugurated in 1926 without one of the four facades planned in the original design, in the shape of a Maltese cross.

In 2018, the National Library became part of the National Cultural Heritage service and today, aware of technology and its advances, the National Library incorporating digital technologies to safeguard the  intellectual and bibliographical culture of Chile.

What to see in the National Library?

In this library that is more than 200 years old, you can review different galleries and collections, it has more than 3 million bibliographic pieces. You can also visit the different rooms in the building. Here you will find sections of Chilean publications, sections of historical newspapers, magazines, collection of encyclopedias and more. 

The Library is located just a 2-minute walk from the Santa Lucía stop of the Hop-On Hop-Off tourist bus and the Santa Lucía Metro Station (Line 1).

See Website See Here.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 16:00. 

Entrada: Free. 

Address: Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 651, Santiago.