Background History of the National Library of Myanmar

     The history of the National Library will be incomplete without mentioning a brief survey of the Bernard Free Library which was established on the 21st February 1883, before the British annexation of Upper Myanmar. The Commissioner of Lower Myanmar, Sir Charles Edward Bernard opened a library with his collection of  books at the centre of Yangon (The No 1 State High School, Latha Township at present.) This library was first free public library in Myanmar and it was known as "The Bernard Free Library". During the Second World War, the Bernard Free Library was totally damaged.

     Fortunately, over 6,000 books and almost all manuscripts were saved and preserved after the war. The library was reopened on the 1st August, 1948. Annual aids were given by the Government and the Municipal Board. In 1952, the Bernard Free Library was transferred to the Myanmar Government and moved to the Jubilee Hall on the Shwedagon Pagoda Road. Then the Library was reopened as the National Library under the Ministry of Culture. In 1962, the library moved to the 2nd and 3rd floors of a small building on Pansodan Street. Then in 1965, the library moved to the municipal building again. The library was not open to the public due to the security purpose.

     The library has become a legal depository of Myanmar-Naing-Ngan, since the Printers and Publishers Registration Act promulgated in 1962. A copy of any printed material must be given to the National Library according to the Act. In 1984, the library moved to the 1st and 2nd floor of the six-storeyed