The National Library of the Republic of Maldives was founded in 1945 as the “State Library” of the Maldives by Ameer Mohamed Amin Didi, then the head of the Department of Education. The Library was renamed “Majeedi Library” in 1948 after one of the most popular statesmen of the Maldives, Ameer Abdul Majeed Didi.
In the climate of development and modernization that has prevailed since 1978 the library was named “The National Library” by His Excellency President Mr. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on 1st June 1982.
The National Library is headed by an Assistant Executive Director, financed by the government and functions under the Ministry of Information, Arts and Culture. After the re-opening of the National Library in 2000, the library provides Public Library Service cum National Library Service. Public Library service aims to provide information, recreation and support research as well as equal opportunity for education and books for all. National Library services aims to acquire and preserve publications concerning the country and maintain national literature.