The National Library of Algeria is a striking modern building at the top of the city's central axis, visible from much of the lower town. The architecture is bold and angular — a deliberate contrast to the French colonial and Ottoman buildings that dominate the centre — and the reading rooms inside are unusually impressive for a working library.
The library holds some five million volumes including rare manuscripts from across Algeria and North Africa. Access for casual visitors is restricted, but the exterior and the grand entrance hall can usually be viewed. The building sits at the junction of several major avenues and is useful as a landmark for navigating the upper city.