The National Library of Tajikistan, facing Dousti Square, is one of the largest buildings in Dushanbe and a prominent feature of the governmental ensemble around the square. The architecture is post-Soviet monumental — a massive white structure that attempts to blend traditional Tajik decorative motifs with the scale of Soviet state architecture.
The library holds an important collection of Persian and Tajik manuscripts, including medieval texts that represent the literary heritage of the Samanid and Timurid periods. The reading rooms and public spaces are accessible to visitors; the manuscript collection requires separate permission. The building's exterior, facing the square, is best seen at night when it is illuminated.