Named in honour of the Insitute’s director from 1968 to 1994, the BIAA David H. French library houses more than 65,000 volumes, including books, theses, maps, journals and audio-visual material. It is recognised as the foremost library in its field in Ankara, and one of the best in Türkiye.
It is necessary to register in order to visit and use the the BIAA David H. French Library. To register either as a BIAA Member or a Student Library Pass Holder, please bring with you proof of identity (e.g. passport or national identity card) and academic status (e.g., student card, university staff card or academic reference). If proof of academic status is not available, contact the Resource Manager in advance of your visit. Following registration, all users must present their library card in order to enter the premises. The BIAA David H. French Library is a non-lending library, and resources can be consulted in the library reading room only.
BIAA membership includes full access to the David H. French Library and is open to all. Click here to become a BIAA member or renew your membership.
Students at all education levels (BA, MA, PhD) attending universities in Türkiye can benefit from a discounted limited-access library pass. Limited-access library pass holders can use the library during the days and times listed below.
| FULL MEMBERS | LIB. CARD HOLDERS | |
| MONDAY | 09:00-17:30 | CLOSED |
| TUESDAY | 09:00-19:30 | 09:00-19:30 |
| WEDNESDAY | 09:00-19:30 | 09:00-19:30 |
| THURSDAY | 09:00-19:30 | 09:00-19:30 |
| FRIDAY | 09:00-17:30 | 09:00-17:30 |
| SATURDAY | 09:00-17:30 | 09:00-17:30 |
| SUNDAY | CLOSED | CLOSED |
The library houses a large collection of works on archaeology and associated subjects in Türkiye and the Black Sea, including a broad range of monographs and an exceptional collection of periodicals which cover all archaeological and historical periods. The library also has a growing number of publications on Cultural Heritage Management, a field in which the BIAA has been increasingly active.
Following a designated grant from the British Academy in 2007, the Institute now houses a specialist collection on the Ottoman and Islamic worlds. The collection comprises historical, architectural, political and archival texts pertaining to the Ottoman and Islamic worlds and their influence in Anatolia and beyond, and includes volumes in English, Turkish, and many other languages.
The Institute holds a significant collection of mostly English-language academic books on contemporary Türkiye, many of which are not available at other libraries in Ankara. All major disciplinary fields in the Humanities and the Social Sciences are represented, including Political Science, International Relations, Social and Cultural Anthropology, Sociology and Contemporary History.
For access to collections other than books, pamphlets, and journals (including the pottery, bones, squeezes, and photographic archives), researchers should write to the Resource Manager at least two weeks before the date they intend to visit. Further information about the BIAA’s physical collections and digitised materials are available on the Digital Repository page and catalogue.