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Rami Library in Istanbul has been named the world's top green library in the "Large-Scale Project" category of the 2026 IFLA Green Library Awards, standing out for transforming a 19th-century military barracks into a climate-resilient public space that brings together cultural heritage, sustainability and community life.
The library, which operates under Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, was selected from 62 applications submitted from 27 countries, according to a ministry statement.
Organized for the 11th time by the Environment, Sustainability and Libraries Section of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), the awards assess projects based on heritage preservation, environmental sustainability, social impact, alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and their potential to serve as models elsewhere.
Of the 62 applications, 26 projects made it onto the longlist and seven advanced to the finals across two categories. Rami Library competed against Jinjiang Library in China and Munster Technological University Library in Ireland before taking first place in the large-scale category.
The finalists presented their projects during the 90th IFLA World Library and Information Congress in Busan, South Korea, where Libraries and Publications Director-General Taner Beyoglu delivered Türkiye's presentation.
Following the announcement of the results, Beyoglu and Rami Library Director Ali Celik received the award from IFLA Secretary General Sharon Memis.
Memis said the project stood out because it did not approach sustainability solely from an environmental perspective, but instead brought environmental, social, cultural and educational elements into the library's spaces and programs.
She described Rami Library as an international example of how heritage preservation, sustainability and public participation can be brought together within a modern library.
Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy also said the award had brought Türkiye international recognition, noting that the historic Rami Barracks had been turned into a modern library through an environmentally friendly approach, extensive green infrastructure and a model centered on an active public space.
Built between 1826 and 1828, the Rami Barracks reopened as Rami Library in 2023 following restoration and adaptive reuse work that preserved the site's historic identity.
Rather than demolishing the structure, the project focused on conservation and reuse, protecting around 36,000 square meters of historic building fabric through traditional construction methods and original natural materials.
The former barracks, which had suffered from structural fatigue and environmental damage, was subsequently turned into a public center bringing together knowledge, culture, nature and community life.
Today, Rami Library has 36,000 square meters of indoor space, 51,000 square meters of green areas, a collection of 2 million books and seating capacity for 4,200 people.
The surrounding landscape includes 696 trees, around 99,000 shrubs, a biological pond and reed areas designed to support urban biodiversity and improve the local microclimate.
Rainwater collected from the building's extensive roof surfaces is reused for landscape irrigation and toilet systems, while low-consumption equipment, LED lighting, sensors and solar energy applications aim to bring down energy use.
Other measures include sorting waste at its source, separately managing hazardous waste, reducing single-use plastics and moving internal processes into digital systems.
The library also houses a book conservation center that works to preserve manuscript and printed works for future generations.
Rami Library is Türkiye's first library to receive Biosphere certification and also holds Zero Waste and Green Energy certificates.
The library's sustainability model also extends to its educational and social programs through climate literacy activities, environment-focused information services, training sessions and hands-on workshops.
Its Accessible Living Center supports access to library services for users of different ages and needs, while the facility operates around the clock, seven days a week.
The library can also function as a safe gathering area during disasters, adding a community resilience role to its cultural and educational functions.
Between its opening in 2023 and the end of 2025, Rami Library welcomed more than 8.2 million visitors.
During the same period, it held thousands of events, workshops and training programs covering subjects including sustainability, health, technology, psychology and the social sciences, while also hosting programs organized with public bodies, civil society organizations and other partners.
The IFLA award places Rami Library among projects demonstrating how historic preservation, environmental sustainability and contemporary library services can be brought together within the same public institution.
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