1931年在文津(jin)街北平圖(tu)書(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)新館(guan)(guan)(guan)落成(即今國(guo)家圖(tu)書(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)分(fen)館(guan)(guan)(guan)),文津(jin)街新館(guan)(guan)(guan)是(shi)(shi)當時(shi)遠東(dong)最先(xian)進的(de)(de)圖(tu)書(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)之一,共(gong)耗費銀元二百四十(shi)余萬元,皆來(lai)自退(tui)還的(de)(de)庚(geng)子賠(pei)款,占地(di)面(mian)積(ji)七(qi)十(shi)六(liu)畝(mu),建(jian)筑外觀是(shi)(shi)華麗的(de)(de)中國(guo)傳統宮殿(dian)式結構,內部設(she)施則(ze)全部為當時(shi)最先(xian)進的(de)(de)西式設(she)備,較(jiao)之美(mei)國(guo)國(guo)會圖(tu)書(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)決(jue)不遜色(se),有學人記載“單是(shi)(shi)它(ta)那中央大廳兩(liang)側下樓(lou)梯的(de)(de)衛生間,鋪(pu)地(di)六(liu)角小瓷磚(zhuan),外面(mian)看(kan)不到里(li)面(mian)里(li)面(mian)能看(kan)到外面(mian)的(de)(de)窗玻璃,一色(se)都是(shi)(shi)美(mei)國(guo)貨,比北京(jing)飯店的(de)(de)還講究”。
北(bei)(bei)(bei)平圖(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)最初由(you)原京(jing)師(shi)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)分(fen)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)與京(jing)師(shi)通(tong)俗(su)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)合(he)并合(he)而成(cheng)。合(he)并前(qian)(qian),二(er)(er)者均(jun)(jun)為(wei)當(dang)時(shi)(shi)北(bei)(bei)(bei)京(jing)政府教(jiao)育(yu)部于1913年(nian)(nian)(nian)創(chuang)辦。1926年(nian)(nian)(nian)5月(yue),奉部令改京(jing)師(shi)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)分(fen)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)為(wei)京(jing)師(shi)第(di)(di)一普(pu)(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan),改京(jing)師(shi)通(tong)俗(su)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)為(wei)京(jing)師(shi)第(di)(di)二(er)(er)普(pu)(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)。1927年(nian)(nian)(nian)7月(yue)二(er)(er)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)合(he)并,改稱京(jing)師(shi)第(di)(di)一普(pu)(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan),館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)址(zhi)在(zai)宣(xuan)武門內(nei)頭發(fa)胡同22號前(qian)(qian)翰林院(yuan)講習館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)舊址(zhi)。1928年(nian)(nian)(nian)11月(yue),由(you)北(bei)(bei)(bei)平特(te)(te)別市(shi)教(jiao)育(yu)局接管,改名(ming)北(bei)(bei)(bei)平特(te)(te)別市(shi)立(li)第(di)(di)一普(pu)(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)。1932年(nian)(nian)(nian),教(jiao)育(yu)局裁并,圖(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)改屬社會局。1933年(nian)(nian)(nian)改稱北(bei)(bei)(bei)平市(shi)立(li)第(di)(di)一普(pu)(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)。日偽統治時(shi)(shi)期稱北(bei)(bei)(bei)京(jing)市(shi)立(li)第(di)(di)一普(pu)(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)。北(bei)(bei)(bei)京(jing)解放前(qian)(qian)夕,又(you)稱北(bei)(bei)(bei)平市(shi)立(li)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan),在(zai)此(ci)期間(jian),1917年(nian)(nian)(nian)建立(li)于中山公(gong)園(yuan)內(nei)的圖(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)閱(yue)覽(lan)(lan)所(曾改名(ming)京(jing)師(shi)第(di)(di)三普(pu)(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)、革(ge)命(ming)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)和中山圖(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan))也合(he)并過來,成(cheng)為(wei)市(shi)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)的分(fen)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)和兒童(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)。1949年(nian)(nian)(nian)前(qian)(qian),該(gai)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)藏(zang)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)約10萬余冊,分(fen)類方(fang)法均(jun)(jun)采用劉(liu)國均(jun)(jun)中國圖(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)分(fen)類法,借閱(yue)方(fang)式(shi)為(wei)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)內(nei)閱(yue)覽(lan)(lan)與館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)外借書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)。閱(yue)覽(lan)(lan)室初時(shi)(shi)分(fen)公(gong)眾閱(yue)覽(lan)(lan)室、新聞閱(yue)覽(lan)(lan)室、兒童(tong)閱(yue)覽(lan)(lan)室,借書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)有機關保證(zheng)與押金(jin)借書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)兩種(zhong)方(fang)式(shi)
當時的北平圖書(shu)館(guan)下設(she)二會(hui)八部(bu)(bu)(bu),分別為:購書(shu)委(wei)(wei)員會(hui)、編纂委(wei)(wei)員會(hui)、總務部(bu)(bu)(bu)、采(cai)訪部(bu)(bu)(bu)、編纂部(bu)(bu)(bu)、閱(yue)覽部(bu)(bu)(bu)、善本(ben)部(bu)(bu)(bu)、金石部(bu)(bu)(bu)、輿(yu)(yu)圖部(bu)(bu)(bu)和期刊部(bu)(bu)(bu),館(guan)藏書(shu)籍包括(kuo)中文(wen)、滿文(wen)、蒙文(wen)、日文(wen)、西文(wen)普(pu)通(tong)書(shu)籍逾四十(shi)萬(wan)(wan)冊(ce)(ce);宋(song)元明清刊本(ben)、寫本(ben)、抄(chao)本(ben)古籍逾三萬(wan)(wan)冊(ce)(ce);金石拓片逾八千(qian)幅;輿(yu)(yu)圖八千(qian)余幅;此外還有寄存圖書(shu)六千(qian)余種三萬(wan)(wan)余冊(ce)(ce)。其中包括(kuo)了《四庫全書(shu)》等珍(zhen)貴收藏。
值得一提(ti)的是,當時的北平(ping)圖(tu)書館(guan)是免費(fei)面向社(she)會公(gong)眾(zhong)開放(fang)的,市民無需交納任(ren)何費(fei)用,只需每次在(zai)(zai)圖(tu)書館(guan)入口(kou)處領取具(ju)有借書證性質的門(men)牌(pai)就可以在(zai)(zai)圖(tu)書館(guan)中(zhong)任(ren)意借書閱覽,但并不(bu)提(ti)供外(wai)借。另(ling)外(wai),圖(tu)書館(guan)對進館(guan)讀者(zhe)的衣著(zhu)有著(zhu)嚴格的要求,讀者(zhe)必須著(zhu)中(zhong)式長(chang)衫(shan)或者(zhe)西式襯衫(shan)西褲并衣著(zhu)整潔方可入內(nei),否(fou)則就要被擋在(zai)(zai)圖(tu)書館(guan)的大門(men)之(zhi)外(wai)。
1942年1月2日(ri),華北政務委(wei)員(yuan)會教育總署接管國(guo)立北平(ping)圖書館(guan),并(bing)更名為國(guo)立北京圖書館(guan)。1945年抗日(ri)戰爭(zheng)結束后,該館(guan)復名國(guo)立北平(ping)圖書館(guan)。
中(zhong)華(hua)人(ren)民共和國(guo)(guo)成(cheng)立后,于(yu)1950年(nian)(nian)(nian)3月6日國(guo)(guo)立北(bei)平圖(tu)書(shu)館(guan)更名(ming)為(wei)(wei)(wei)國(guo)(guo)立北(bei)京(jing)圖(tu)書(shu)館(guan),1951年(nian)(nian)(nian)6月12日更名(ming)為(wei)(wei)(wei)北(bei)京(jing)圖(tu)書(shu)館(guan),成(cheng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)中(zhong)華(hua)人(ren)民共和國(guo)(guo)唯一的(de)國(guo)(guo)家(jia)圖(tu)書(shu)館(guan)。1987年(nian)(nian)(nian),北(bei)京(jing)圖(tu)書(shu)館(guan)新館(guan)在白石橋(qiao)路(今中(zhong)關村南(nan)大街)落(luo)成(cheng),該建筑還(huan)曾被評(ping)為(wei)(wei)(wei)“八十年(nian)(nian)(nian)代北(bei)京(jing)十大建筑”榜首(shou),館(guan)名(ming)由鄧小平題(ti)寫。1998年(nian)(nian)(nian)12月12日北(bei)京(jing)圖(tu)書(shu)館(guan)更名(ming)為(wei)(wei)(wei)中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)國(guo)(guo)家(jia)圖(tu)書(shu)館(guan),1999年(nian)(nian)(nian)4月16日由當(dang)時的(de)中(zhong)共中(zhong)央總書(shu)記(ji)、國(guo)(guo)家(jia)主席江澤(ze)民題(ti)寫館(guan)名(ming)。