The library tucked inside the Al-Abbas shrine complex is one of the oldest in Iraq. It holds tens of thousands of printed books and a major collection of manuscripts, including rare Qur'ans and theological works in Arabic, Persian and Turkish. The newer reading rooms are bright and modern; an upper hall displays the most precious manuscripts in climate-controlled cases.
Access is generally easier for scholars than for casual tourists, but with politeness and modest dress you can usually look in. The Digital Information Center, an online portal to the collection, has put many of the rarer items online — useful if you cannot get past the gatekeepers.