2018The National Library of Iceland 200th Anniversary - First Day Cover

The National Library of Iceland was Iceland’s Central Library from the time it was founded in 1818 until it merged with the University Library of Iceland. The library collects all Icelandic books and documents. It preserves, registers and classifies them while also supporting the University‘s teaching and research activities. In 1881, the library moved to the newly erected facilities of Althing, and in 1886 a new legislation provided for mandatory submission of printed materials to the National Library. In 1918 the library collection comprised 100.000 volumes with the manuscript collection containing 7.000 volumes. A new library building at Hverfisgata was constructed in the years 1906-1908 and the National Library moved into the facilities along with the State Archives, the National Museum and the Museum of Natural History. Around the middle of the last century plans were made for the merger of the National Library and the University Library. Plans were made for the construction of a „þjóðarbókhlaða“ for both these libraries at the University. The National and University Library opened to the public in their new facilities on December 1, 1994.