The National Library is the country's main repository of manuscripts and printed books, with collections particularly strong in Zaydi religious texts, Arabic poetry, and Yemeni historical sources — many transferred from older mosque libraries during the 20th century. The building, near Tahrir Square, is a modest modern structure, but the reading room is open to researchers and the catalogue is genuinely useful for anyone interested in Yemeni history.
The library lost some materials during the conflict and is no longer reliably accessible. Yemen has fought a long battle to preserve its manuscript heritage, much of which lives in private family collections in the old city.