1931年(nian)在(zai)文津街(jie)北平圖書(shu)館(guan)(guan)新館(guan)(guan)落成(cheng)(即今國(guo)(guo)家(jia)圖書(shu)館(guan)(guan)分館(guan)(guan)),文津街(jie)新館(guan)(guan)是(shi)(shi)當(dang)時遠東最先(xian)進(jin)的(de)(de)圖書(shu)館(guan)(guan)之(zhi)一,共耗費銀元二百(bai)四(si)十(shi)余萬元,皆來(lai)自退還(huan)的(de)(de)庚子賠款,占(zhan)地(di)面(mian)積七(qi)十(shi)六畝(mu),建(jian)筑(zhu)外(wai)觀是(shi)(shi)華(hua)麗的(de)(de)中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)傳(chuan)統宮殿式結(jie)構,內部設(she)施則全部為當(dang)時最先(xian)進(jin)的(de)(de)西式設(she)備,較之(zhi)美國(guo)(guo)國(guo)(guo)會圖書(shu)館(guan)(guan)決不(bu)遜色,有(you)學人記(ji)載“單是(shi)(shi)它(ta)那(nei)中(zhong)央(yang)大廳兩(liang)側下樓(lou)梯的(de)(de)衛生(sheng)間,鋪(pu)地(di)六角小瓷(ci)磚,外(wai)面(mian)看不(bu)到(dao)里(li)面(mian)里(li)面(mian)能看到(dao)外(wai)面(mian)的(de)(de)窗玻(bo)璃(li),一色都是(shi)(shi)美國(guo)(guo)貨,比北京飯店的(de)(de)還(huan)講(jiang)究”。
北(bei)平圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)最(zui)初由原(yuan)京(jing)(jing)師(shi)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)分(fen)(fen)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)與京(jing)(jing)師(shi)通(tong)俗(su)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)合(he)并合(he)而(er)成。合(he)并前(qian),二者均(jun)為當時(shi)北(bei)京(jing)(jing)政府(fu)教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)育(yu)部于1913年創(chuang)辦。1926年5月,奉部令改(gai)京(jing)(jing)師(shi)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)分(fen)(fen)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)為京(jing)(jing)師(shi)第(di)(di)(di)(di)一普(pu)(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan),改(gai)京(jing)(jing)師(shi)通(tong)俗(su)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)為京(jing)(jing)師(shi)第(di)(di)(di)(di)二普(pu)(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)。1927年7月二館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)合(he)并,改(gai)稱京(jing)(jing)師(shi)第(di)(di)(di)(di)一普(pu)(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan),館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)址在宣武門內(nei)頭發胡同22號前(qian)翰林院講習館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)舊(jiu)址。1928年11月,由北(bei)平特(te)別市(shi)教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)育(yu)局(ju)接管(guan),改(gai)名(ming)北(bei)平特(te)別市(shi)立(li)第(di)(di)(di)(di)一普(pu)(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)。1932年,教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)育(yu)局(ju)裁并,圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)改(gai)屬社(she)會(hui)局(ju)。1933年改(gai)稱北(bei)平市(shi)立(li)第(di)(di)(di)(di)一普(pu)(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)。日偽統治時(shi)期稱北(bei)京(jing)(jing)市(shi)立(li)第(di)(di)(di)(di)一普(pu)(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)。北(bei)京(jing)(jing)解放前(qian)夕,又(you)稱北(bei)平市(shi)立(li)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan),在此期間,1917年建立(li)于中(zhong)(zhong)山公(gong)園(yuan)內(nei)的(de)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)閱(yue)(yue)覽(lan)(lan)(lan)所(曾(ceng)改(gai)名(ming)京(jing)(jing)師(shi)第(di)(di)(di)(di)三普(pu)(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)、革(ge)命圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)和中(zhong)(zhong)山圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan))也合(he)并過來,成為市(shi)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)的(de)分(fen)(fen)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)和兒童圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)。1949年前(qian),該(gai)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)藏書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)約(yue)10萬余(yu)冊,分(fen)(fen)類方法(fa)(fa)均(jun)采用劉國(guo)均(jun)中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)分(fen)(fen)類法(fa)(fa),借閱(yue)(yue)方式(shi)為館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)內(nei)閱(yue)(yue)覽(lan)(lan)(lan)與館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)外(wai)借書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)。閱(yue)(yue)覽(lan)(lan)(lan)室初時(shi)分(fen)(fen)公(gong)眾閱(yue)(yue)覽(lan)(lan)(lan)室、新聞閱(yue)(yue)覽(lan)(lan)(lan)室、兒童閱(yue)(yue)覽(lan)(lan)(lan)室,借書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)有(you)機關保(bao)證(zheng)與押金借書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)兩種方式(shi)
當時(shi)的北平圖(tu)書(shu)館(guan)下(xia)設(she)二會(hui)八部(bu),分別為:購(gou)書(shu)委員(yuan)會(hui)、編纂委員(yuan)會(hui)、總(zong)務部(bu)、采訪部(bu)、編纂部(bu)、閱覽部(bu)、善本(ben)部(bu)、金石(shi)部(bu)、輿(yu)圖(tu)部(bu)和期刊部(bu),館(guan)藏(zang)(zang)書(shu)籍(ji)包(bao)(bao)括中文(wen)(wen)、滿文(wen)(wen)、蒙文(wen)(wen)、日文(wen)(wen)、西文(wen)(wen)普(pu)通書(shu)籍(ji)逾四十萬冊;宋元(yuan)明清刊本(ben)、寫本(ben)、抄本(ben)古(gu)籍(ji)逾三(san)萬冊;金石(shi)拓片逾八千幅(fu);輿(yu)圖(tu)八千余幅(fu);此外(wai)還(huan)有寄存圖(tu)書(shu)六千余種三(san)萬余冊。其中包(bao)(bao)括了(le)《四庫全書(shu)》等珍貴收藏(zang)(zang)。
值得一提(ti)的(de)(de)(de)(de)是(shi)(shi),當時的(de)(de)(de)(de)北平圖書(shu)館(guan)是(shi)(shi)免費面向社會公眾開放(fang)的(de)(de)(de)(de),市民無(wu)需交納任何費用,只需每次在(zai)(zai)圖書(shu)館(guan)入口處領取具有(you)借書(shu)證性質的(de)(de)(de)(de)門(men)(men)牌(pai)就可以在(zai)(zai)圖書(shu)館(guan)中(zhong)(zhong)任意借書(shu)閱覽(lan),但并不(bu)提(ti)供外借。另外,圖書(shu)館(guan)對(dui)進(jin)館(guan)讀者的(de)(de)(de)(de)衣(yi)著有(you)著嚴格(ge)的(de)(de)(de)(de)要求,讀者必須(xu)著中(zhong)(zhong)式長衫或者西式襯衫西褲(ku)并衣(yi)著整潔(jie)方可入內,否則就要被(bei)擋(dang)在(zai)(zai)圖書(shu)館(guan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)大門(men)(men)之外。
1942年(nian)1月2日,華北(bei)(bei)政(zheng)務委員會教育(yu)總署(shu)接管(guan)國(guo)(guo)立(li)北(bei)(bei)平圖書(shu)館(guan),并更名(ming)為國(guo)(guo)立(li)北(bei)(bei)京圖書(shu)館(guan)。1945年(nian)抗日戰爭結束(shu)后,該館(guan)復名(ming)國(guo)(guo)立(li)北(bei)(bei)平圖書(shu)館(guan)。
中(zhong)(zhong)華人(ren)民共和(he)國(guo)成(cheng)立(li)后,于1950年3月(yue)6日國(guo)立(li)北(bei)(bei)平圖(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)更(geng)名(ming)(ming)為(wei)(wei)國(guo)立(li)北(bei)(bei)京(jing)圖(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan),1951年6月(yue)12日更(geng)名(ming)(ming)為(wei)(wei)北(bei)(bei)京(jing)圖(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan),成(cheng)為(wei)(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)華人(ren)民共和(he)國(guo)唯一的國(guo)家圖(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)。1987年,北(bei)(bei)京(jing)圖(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)新館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)在白石(shi)橋(qiao)路(今中(zhong)(zhong)關村(cun)南大街(jie))落成(cheng),該建筑(zhu)(zhu)還曾(ceng)被評(ping)為(wei)(wei)“八十年代北(bei)(bei)京(jing)十大建筑(zhu)(zhu)”榜(bang)首,館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)名(ming)(ming)由鄧小平題(ti)寫。1998年12月(yue)12日北(bei)(bei)京(jing)圖(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)更(geng)名(ming)(ming)為(wei)(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)國(guo)家圖(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan),1999年4月(yue)16日由當時(shi)的中(zhong)(zhong)共中(zhong)(zhong)央總書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)記、國(guo)家主席江澤民題(ti)寫館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)名(ming)(ming)。