Iraq National Library and Archives is the oldest public library in modern Iraq  and was formerly called the national library and deposit centre in Iraq. It was formed in 1987 as a result of the decision to merge the national library with the national documentation centre; it has often been affected by the wars and conflicts in the country. Providing and acquiring the Iraqi intellectual work that is issued outside Iraq for Iraqi authors, translators or intellectuals, as well as acquiring of publications related to Iraq issued in international languages, so that the library collections become complete and comprehensive.

The Ministry formally supervises public libraries in the country. It is also responsible for infrastructure development, support for artists, promotion of cultural diversity, heritage preservation, and educational collaboration. It is important to note that culture is a dynamic field, the Ministry’s role continues to evolve in response to Iraq’s changing social and political landscape. Additional activities include recent digital initiatives, international cultural exchanges, efforts to promote cultural tourism, or responses to current challenges like post-conflict reconstruction and displacement.

The Ministry supervises the Administration of the University Presidency, which takes care of the centralised system of university libraries in Iraq. The Ministry strives to bring about both quantitative and qualitative advancements in the scientific, technical, and cultural landscape of Iraq. It plays a guiding role in steering scientific and research institutions toward the creation of a new, well-educated generation—one that is equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to become a driving and influential force within Iraqi society. In addition to its internal educational mission, the Ministry is also committed to fostering and expanding scientific and cultural relations with other countries, as well as with international scientific and academic organizations. This is done with the aim of achieving greater harmony and integration in the global sphere of science and knowledge. Furthermore, the Ministry is responsible for supervising universities across Iraq, managing their financial allocations, and facilitating scholarship programs that allow Iraqi students to pursue education abroad.

The Cataloguing and Classification Unit was established in 2006 at the Library and Manuscript House of Al-Abbas’s (p) Holy Shrine. Despite facing initial challenges — Iraq has been negatively affected by political and cultural crises over the past decades — the unit became a leading centre for libraries community in cataloguing and classification. The centre relied on AACR2, MARC21, and SirsiDynix (Symphony program), and over time transitioned to RDA and the Siraj system. The unit provided training courses at Iraqi universities and organised scientific conferences and workshops, contributing to achieving sustainable development goals. It also led innovative projects such as the authority file for Iraqi authors and the Iraqi Portal of Knowledge. These efforts have made the centre a leading institution and contributed to international recognition.

The centre converts all types of library materials from physical to electronic form to protect them from damage and facilitate access. The materials borrowed from Iraqi libraries are accurately digitised and the library will gain an electronic form in addition to its original source.

It is relied upon by numerous ministries and institutions, including the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, which explicitly requested that the Centre would be responsible for training staff and installing library software across its affiliated institutions.

Another website, officially affiliated with and belonging to the Cataloguing and Classification Centre at the Library and Manuscript House of Al-Abbas’s Holy Shrine: https://afiqa.net

This law is based on The Public Libraries Code No. 40 of 1974, which laid the foundational framework for Iraq’s public library system. The 1974 law introduced national objectives for cultural development, educational support, and geographic distribution of services—many of which informed the structure of the 1996 system.

The objectives of introducing the law included:

• Enhancing the cultural and scientific standards of citizens and increasing their awareness.
• Collaborating with other libraries, particularly school libraries, to provide library services to students for their readings, research, and reports.
• Organising exhibitions and publications that contribute to the professional development of citizens and enable them to access appropriate scientific resources for their professions and work.
• Establishing conferences and study sessions within Iraq or participating in them, as well as participating in conferences and courses outside Iraq related to library work and its development.
• Developing library services for children by establishing specialized libraries for them or creating dedicated sections within public libraries, equipped with necessary books, publications, and other materials.
• Distributing current and new public libraries in a manner that aligns with the actual needs of beneficiaries in the geographical area.

The depository centre is in the National Library. Materials to be deposited include books; pamphlets; brochures; reports and statistics that are printed and published by the government for the purpose of selling and distributing; university theses; magazines; official newspapers; Iraqi events; musical publications and other materials that the Ministry of Culture considers to be works. The owner of the press must deposit five copies of his works in the national library. The works should be deposited before they are made available to the public.

The Copyright Law of Iraq does not contain any explicit exceptions for libraries. It does contain a broad exception for personal use, allowing individuals to take copies of works, as well as exceptions for quotations. However, possibilities to re-use content in reporting on news of the day were removed in 2004. The law does, however, not include any lending right (implying that libraries can lend books), and suggests broadly that exceptions may be possible as long as they comply with the three-step test (special uses, which do not conflict with normal market use, and which do not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of rightholders).

(see also unofficial English translation: https://njq-ip.com/country/iraq/copyrights/laws/)

A degree in Library and Information Science (LIS) can be obtained through an accredited programme at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels at institutions and universities that offer studies in the field of culture. There are three universities and institutes offering LIS education. However, they are relatively limited in their educational scope and experience insufficient support. Among the prominent educational institutions offering specialised programs are the Department of Information and Knowledge Technologies at Mustansiriyah University, the Department of Information and Library Technologies at the University of Mosul, and the Department of Libraries and Information at the University of Basrah.

Nevertheless, in practice, there remains a pressing need for broader support and development in this sector. This is done via some institutions, see the section ‘Library support organisations’ for more information.

The Iraq National Library and Archives at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities began issuing the monthly “Al-Mawruth” electronic journal specialising in the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Iraq, since January 24, 2008, to be the first (official Iraqi electronic journal). In October 2017, it was decided to convert the monthly journal into a site that publishes regularly for objective and technical reasons, while maintaining the publication of the journal in the digital form (pdf).

A bi-annual scientific journal on manuscript heritage and documents established in 2017 issued by the library and the House of Manuscripts Al-Abbas Holy Shrine.

The conference is held by the Library and House of Manuscripts of Al-Abbas Holy Shrine every two years in February. It focuses on enhancing cooperation among  specialists in the field of libraries and information, in particular, and cooperation in technical operations related to standards and rules for descriptive cataloging and lists of subject headings. The goal is to develop solutions and proposals for problems faced by Arab libraries as well as exchange experiences and ideas to enhance the professional development of librarians and promote scientific and technical collaboration among them.