Bernard Free Library

{{Short description|Burmese public library}} {{EngvarB|date=January 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox library | name = Bernard Free Library | country = Myanmar | established = {{start date|1883}} | coordinates = {{coord|16.781094583518072|96.15222711506927}} }}

The '''Bernard Free Library''' was the first free public library in Burma (now Myanmar), and a direct predecessor to the National Library of Myanmar.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Places in History {{!}} The Free British Colonial Library in Myanmar that Welcomed Everyone|url=https://www.irrawaddy.com/specials/places-in-history/free-british-colonial-library-myanmar-welcomed-everyone.html|date=2020-02-21|website=The Irrawaddy|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref>

==History== The Bernard Free Library was established on 21 February 1883 when the Commissioner of Lower Myanmar (Lower Burma), Sir Charles Edward Bernard opened a library, with his collection of books, pre-colonial historical manuscripts, and literary works, in the centre of Rangoon (presently No 1 Basic Education High School, Latha Township).<ref name=":0" />

During the Second World War, the Library was damaged but many books and almost all manuscripts were saved. In 1952, the Library was transferred to the Burmese government, and moved to the Jubilee Hall on the Shwedagon Pagoda Road and was reopened as the National Library of Myanmar under the Ministry of Culture. The library is the legal depository of Myanmar, under the Printers and Publishers Registration Act 1962.

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Libraries in Myanmar Category:Asian studies Category:1880s establishments in Burma Category:Libraries established in 1883 Category:1883 establishments in Asia Category:Buildings and structures in Yangon