Islamic Libraries in Shkodra

Abstract

During Ottoman Empire rain religious institutions were built. They had libraries built inside as well. Bools were printed in Arabic Persian, Turkish and Albanian Language. It is well documented fact that there were twenty five thousand volumes published in Shkodra and ten thousand of them belong to private libraries. There were quite a few Islamic libraries in the city of Shkodra however, and in this article we’ll talk about only three of them. *Vakef Library is very old and most of its books are gift from Old Madrasah of Old Bazaar. It was a simple two story building with a study room. At this library have served well known linguists like: Hamdi Bushati, Muhamet Kuçuku, Abdullah Bedica and finally Esat Myftia. *Këlliçi Library at the Qafe Tabaku neighborhood use to be one of the oldest of Shkodra established by Hasan Këlliçi a lawyer and religious teacher by profession. It was situated at the Rozafa Castle near River Drin. At this library use to serve: Jusuf Tabaku and Esat Myftinia. It was well known for containing ancient writings. Later on a good part of books from this library were allocated at Marin Barleti Library. *Myftiej Library of Ndocaj neighborhood was one of the richest ones. It was established more than three hundred years ago by Great Effendi Salih. Most of the books were brought there from Istanbul’s Mustafa Pasha Library. Successor to this library was his nephew Sali Myftiej.