A Subsidiary of Astan-e Qods Razavi

Malek National Museum and Library was donated to Astan-e Qods Razavi by the late Haj Hossein Agha Malek, and thus it is one of Astan-e Qods Razavi's subsidiary institutes. The institute operates according to its letter of endowment and within the framework of Astan-e Qods Razavi's cultural programs and objectives.

Astan-e Qods Razavi's cultural activities were limited to four libraries; Markazi (Mashad), Malek (Tehran), Vaziri (Yazd) and Harandi (Kerman) before the triumph of the Islamic Revolution. After the Revolution, however, the High Guardian of Astan-e Qods Razavi decided to further develop and revive Razavi culture, and thus numerous cultural institutes such as the Organization of Libraries and Museums and the Documents Center of Astan-e Qods Razavi were founded.

A considerable part of Astan-e Qods Razavi's cultural activities is related to books and museums. Astan-e Qods Razavi and its subsidiary cultural institutes comprise 38 libraries with an overall collection of 2.5 million books, including 78,000 manuscripts and 25,000 lithograph-printed books as well as 60,000 square meters of study space. They thus form the largest network of libraries in the country, and its museums represent the richest and most significant treasuries of artworks in the country.

Astan-e Qods Razavi's 20-year plan reflect the ambition of achieving the top status among libraries and museums in the Middle East, and Malek National Library and Museum accords top priority to such an objective in its future programs.