Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia (National Library of Colombia), Bogota

The National Library of Colombia, located in Bogota, holds the prestigious title of being the oldest national library in the Americas, founded on January 9, 1777. Established under the direction of Viceroy Manuel de Guirior, its initial collection comprised books confiscated from the Jesuits after their expulsion from Spanish territories by King Charles III in 1767. This collection became a cornerstone for one of the continent’s first public libraries, embodying the Enlightenment ideals of intellectual freedom and public access to knowledge.

Over time, the library's role and significance expanded. In 1825, it was moved to the campus of Saint Bartholomew's College and officially named the National Library of Colombia. A pivotal moment came in 1834, with the enactment of the legal deposit law, which required all published works in Colombia to be archived in the library. This positioned the library as the guardian of the nation's bibliographic heritage, housing rare books, incunabula, prints, sound recordings, and audiovisual works of great historical value.

The current library building, inaugurated in 1938 and later remodeled in 1978 by architect Jacques Mosseri, is a four-story structure situated on the southeast corner of Independence Park. While the façade and decorative elements have remained largely intact, the interior is a dynamic space. It features general reading rooms, exhibition areas, a hemerotheca, and specialized sections for research and administration.

The National Library offers services such as legal publications storage, guided tours, and access to valuable collections enriched by donations from notable figures like Manuel del Socorro Rodriguez and German Arciniegas. Since 1938, it has hosted art exhibitions, including a notable display by Victorio Macho in 1939, cementing its role as a cultural and artistic hub in Colombia.

Declared a National Monument in 1976, the National Library of Colombia stands as a testament to the nation's rich intellectual and cultural legacy.