Some Notes on the Library of Mahmud II in Cyprus and it’s Manuscripts

After Cyprus became a part of Ottoman Empire, many institutions such as madrasas, elementary schools (sıbyan mektebi), literacy schools (küttab), mosques and libraries were established here. one of these aforementioned institutions is a library, established here by Sultan Mahmud II. In 1829 this library was built by Ali Ruhi Effendi, the governor (muhassal) of Cyprus. Although this library was established as a library of a madrasa, right next to the Selimiye Mosque in Lefkoşe (Nicosia), in progress of time it came in a central library of the city. The library had been greatly enriched with the donated books in its establishment period and with some purchased works in time. These aforementioned works are now preserved in the National Archives and Research Depart-ment in Kyrenia Cyprus.