ISAM - Center for Islamic Studies

Library and Documentation

On the Library

TDV Center for Islamic Studies (ISAM) Library

The ISAM library was established in 1984 with the purpose of collecting the publications necessary to prepare the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam under one roof and, also of making them available to all interested researchers. The library operates based on modern methods to help maintain research and publication activities involving both the encyclopedia and other programs in a steady and timely fashion. It keeps track of all books and periodicals on Islamic culture, history, and civilization on a regular basis. Expanding outside Islamic studies, the library collections have continuously grown richer in other areas of social sciences, especially with respect to Turkish history, culture, and literature. In time, many private collections have been added as well, such as those belonging to Ziyad Ebuzziya, Orhan Saik Gokyay, Nejat Goyunc, Hilmi Oflaz, Nihat M. Cetin, Yavuz Argit, Albert Hourani, Jacques Waardenburg, Kemal Beydilli, and Ilber Ortayli. Some of these private collections include rare archival documents.

Library Collections

Books	256,623 Cilt
Journals	3,678 different titles, of which 795 are continuously subscribed
Document Folders	17,310
Microfilm (Ottoman Court Records)	22,889
Microfiche and microfilm	411
Reprints	5,376
CDs	1.239

Library Hours

Everyday: 9:00 am-11:00 pm

Data Bases

ISAM Data Base of Turkish Libraries

This data base contains citations regarding 717,000 manuscripts and publications housed in 122 different libraries in Turkey, including all manuscript libraries in Istanbul. It was created with the aim of supporting the publication efforts of the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam as well as internal use by the research staff at ISAM.

The Thesis Data Base

In addition to the data base on major library collections and to further facilitate the preparation of the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam and other ISAM publications, the citations of all theses prepared in Turkish colleges and universities within the main areas of interest to ISAM were also collected and computerized resulting in the creation of the Thesis Data Base. This regularly updated data base includes a total of 286,000 thesis citations.

The Article Data Base

Currently, the Article Date Base contains citations for 855,000 articles, including all of the articles in the Turkiye Makaleler Bibliyografyasipublished in Turkey from 1929 to 1999. This data base incorporates complete and up to date information about articles published in the journals of the Theology Faculties as well. Efforts to enhance this data base continue through the addition of all articles, already present in ISAM library and their reprints in ISAM’s major research fields.

Domestic researchers unable to come to ISAM library can also utilize the existing data bases by sending their requests via e-mail to: kutuphane@isam.org.tr

Documentation

The ISAM Documentation service holds 17,310 document folders in its collections. These folders are prepared by going through 135,562 books and 63,234 issues of 2,149 different kinds of journals that are connected with entries to be included in the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam published by ISAM. In addition to the researchers who are members of our Library, academics from outside Istanbul can also consult these document folders. Those wishing to use these folders can request documents through e-mailing our Library at: kutuphane@isam.org.tr.

The Documentation service is open seven days a week from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Ottoman Court Records Archive

This archive houses microfilm versions of the records from 27 Shari‘ah courts (9,895 defters, or registers) that are kept at the Office of the Jurisconsult of Istanbul (Istanbul Muftulugu), the Daily Account Books of the Rumelian and Anatolian Chief Military Judges (Rumeli ve Anadolu Kazarkerligi Ruznamceleri) (377 defters), the registers of the Head of the Descendents of the Prophet (Nakibu’l-Esraf defterleri) (33 defters), and the Judge seals (Kadi Muhurleri) (13 defters), and the Shari‘ah Court Records in the Milli Kutuphane (8,860 defters). In addition, it also contains microfilms of the court records from the Manastir region of Macedonia (185 defters) and from Livno, Mostar, Priyedor, Sarajevo, Temesvar, and Visoko regions (118 defters) which are kept at the archives of Sarajevo Oriental Studies Institute, Mostar / Herzegovina Archives, Sarajevo History Archives, and Gazi Husrev Bey Library.

Ottoman Shari‘ah Court Records Archive is open to researchers seven days a week from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Conditions for using the ISAM Library

All professors and graduate students can use the library.
While entering or exiting the library, it is required that all users scan their ISAM library membership identification cards through the electronic scanner located at the information desk.
Definitely no smoking, and no food or drinks are allowed in the library.
Lockers for personal use are available in the library.
ISAM cannot, however, be held responsible for lost or stolen items.
It is compulsory for users to keep their cellular phones off in the library.
Contents of the library are under electronic surveillance. No library materials can be taken out without prior permission. We will take legal action against those who attempt to do so.
Recording of any kind, including taking photographs, in the library without permission is prohibited.
No group meetings or loud conversations are allowed in the library. Library personnel should not be kept occupied with requests not included among their responsibilities.
It is requested that library users do not consult with the researchers, the academic or the administrative personnel during work hours.
The library does not lend out any publications.
The library materials are organized according to an open shelf system and users are not allowed to make any changes in the way they are organized.
If library resources are irrevocably damaged or lost by a user, in addition to collecting the full payment for these materials, the library also cancels the membership of that user.
A given desk cannot be reserved for individual use on a continuous basis.
Some computers are designated for general use in the library. They cannot, however, be used for any reason other than conducting research.