Established in Arnavutköy by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality with an innovative approach that reimagines libraries as centers of culture, art, and knowledge—breaking away from traditional modes of librarianship—the Rıfat Ilgaz Library opened its doors on November 4, 2021.

Named after the esteemed writer Rıfat Ilgaz, known for always staying close to the people and deeply connected with Anatolian society, the library welcomes readers with a collection of 20,000 works.

Spanning 1,010 square meters, the library has a total capacity of 190 people and features a 40-person study area and a 50-person conference hall. Serving primarily Arnavutköy but also all of Istanbul, the library offers comprehensive facilities.

Rıfat Ilgaz Library supports young people preparing for exams with dedicated study and question-solving programs and hosts various workshops. For children, it offers creative drama, storytelling, philosophy, and story workshops; for adults, it regularly organizes talks and seminars.

All residents of the area can benefit from the lending services at Rıfat Ilgaz Library as well as all libraries affiliated with the Library and Museums Branch Directorate under the Department of Urban History and Promotion of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Prospective members only need to apply in person to our libraries with an officially valid identification document such as a Turkish national ID card, driver’s license, or passport.

Membership is also possible through the İBB Kütüphane Mini application available in the İstanbul Senin mobile app for quick and easy access to our services.

For e-Government membership registration, users should log in to turkiye.gov.tr, search for "İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi Kütüphane" (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Library), and click on the "Belediye Kütüphaneleri Üyelik Bilgileri Sorgulama ve Üyelik Başvurusu" link. On the page that opens, complete the required fields for new membership and finish the process by clicking the 'Apply' button. With the password sent via SMS and email, all İBB library services become accessible.