1931年(nian)在文津(jin)街北(bei)平圖(tu)(tu)書(shu)館(guan)新館(guan)落(luo)成(即今(jin)國家圖(tu)(tu)書(shu)館(guan)分館(guan)),文津(jin)街新館(guan)是(shi)當(dang)(dang)時遠東(dong)最(zui)先進的圖(tu)(tu)書(shu)館(guan)之(zhi)一,共耗費銀元二(er)百四十余萬元,皆來自退還(huan)的庚子賠款,占地面(mian)積七十六畝,建筑外(wai)觀是(shi)華(hua)麗的中(zhong)國傳統宮殿式(shi)結構,內部(bu)(bu)設施則全(quan)部(bu)(bu)為當(dang)(dang)時最(zui)先進的西(xi)式(shi)設備,較之(zhi)美(mei)國國會(hui)圖(tu)(tu)書(shu)館(guan)決不遜色(se),有學人記載“單是(shi)它那中(zhong)央大廳兩側下樓梯的衛生間,鋪地六角小瓷磚,外(wai)面(mian)看(kan)不到里面(mian)里面(mian)能看(kan)到外(wai)面(mian)的窗玻(bo)璃,一色(se)都是(shi)美(mei)國貨,比北(bei)京飯(fan)店的還(huan)講究(jiu)”。
北(bei)(bei)平圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)最初由原(yuan)京(jing)(jing)師(shi)(shi)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)分館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)與(yu)京(jing)(jing)師(shi)(shi)通(tong)俗(su)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)合(he)并(bing)合(he)而成。合(he)并(bing)前(qian),二者均為當時(shi)北(bei)(bei)京(jing)(jing)政(zheng)府教(jiao)育(yu)部(bu)于(yu)1913年創辦。1926年5月(yue),奉部(bu)令(ling)改(gai)(gai)京(jing)(jing)師(shi)(shi)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)分館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)為京(jing)(jing)師(shi)(shi)第(di)一普(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan),改(gai)(gai)京(jing)(jing)師(shi)(shi)通(tong)俗(su)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)為京(jing)(jing)師(shi)(shi)第(di)二普(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)。1927年7月(yue)二館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)合(he)并(bing),改(gai)(gai)稱(cheng)(cheng)京(jing)(jing)師(shi)(shi)第(di)一普(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan),館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)址在(zai)宣武門(men)內頭發胡同22號前(qian)翰(han)林院(yuan)講習館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)舊址。1928年11月(yue),由北(bei)(bei)平特別市(shi)(shi)(shi)教(jiao)育(yu)局(ju)接(jie)管,改(gai)(gai)名(ming)北(bei)(bei)平特別市(shi)(shi)(shi)立第(di)一普(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)。1932年,教(jiao)育(yu)局(ju)裁(cai)并(bing),圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)改(gai)(gai)屬社會局(ju)。1933年改(gai)(gai)稱(cheng)(cheng)北(bei)(bei)平市(shi)(shi)(shi)立第(di)一普(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)。日偽統治時(shi)期(qi)稱(cheng)(cheng)北(bei)(bei)京(jing)(jing)市(shi)(shi)(shi)立第(di)一普(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)。北(bei)(bei)京(jing)(jing)解放前(qian)夕,又稱(cheng)(cheng)北(bei)(bei)平市(shi)(shi)(shi)立圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan),在(zai)此期(qi)間(jian),1917年建立于(yu)中山公園內的圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)閱(yue)(yue)覽所(曾改(gai)(gai)名(ming)京(jing)(jing)師(shi)(shi)第(di)三普(pu)通(tong)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)、革命圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)和中山圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan))也合(he)并(bing)過(guo)來,成為市(shi)(shi)(shi)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)的分館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)和兒童圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)。1949年前(qian),該館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)藏書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)約10萬余冊(ce),分類方(fang)(fang)法均采(cai)用劉(liu)國均中國圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)分類法,借(jie)(jie)閱(yue)(yue)方(fang)(fang)式為館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)內閱(yue)(yue)覽與(yu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)外借(jie)(jie)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)。閱(yue)(yue)覽室初時(shi)分公眾閱(yue)(yue)覽室、新(xin)聞閱(yue)(yue)覽室、兒童閱(yue)(yue)覽室,借(jie)(jie)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)有機關保證(zheng)與(yu)押(ya)金(jin)借(jie)(jie)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)兩(liang)種方(fang)(fang)式
當(dang)時的北平圖(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)館下設二會(hui)八部(bu),分別(bie)為:購書(shu)(shu)(shu)委員會(hui)、編(bian)纂(zuan)委員會(hui)、總務部(bu)、采訪(fang)部(bu)、編(bian)纂(zuan)部(bu)、閱覽部(bu)、善本部(bu)、金(jin)石部(bu)、輿圖(tu)部(bu)和期刊部(bu),館藏書(shu)(shu)(shu)籍(ji)(ji)包(bao)括中(zhong)文、滿文、蒙文、日文、西文普通書(shu)(shu)(shu)籍(ji)(ji)逾(yu)四(si)(si)十(shi)萬冊(ce);宋元(yuan)明清刊本、寫本、抄本古籍(ji)(ji)逾(yu)三萬冊(ce);金(jin)石拓(tuo)片逾(yu)八千(qian)幅;輿圖(tu)八千(qian)余(yu)幅;此外(wai)還(huan)有(you)寄存圖(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)六千(qian)余(yu)種三萬余(yu)冊(ce)。其中(zhong)包(bao)括了《四(si)(si)庫全(quan)書(shu)(shu)(shu)》等(deng)珍貴收藏。
值得一(yi)提(ti)的(de)(de)是(shi)(shi),當(dang)時的(de)(de)北平圖(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)館(guan)是(shi)(shi)免費面向社(she)會(hui)公眾開放(fang)的(de)(de),市民無需交(jiao)納任何(he)費用,只需每(mei)次在圖(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)館(guan)入口處領取具有借(jie)書(shu)(shu)證性質的(de)(de)門(men)(men)牌就可以在圖(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)館(guan)中任意借(jie)書(shu)(shu)閱覽(lan),但并不提(ti)供外借(jie)。另外,圖(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)館(guan)對(dui)進館(guan)讀者(zhe)(zhe)的(de)(de)衣(yi)著有著嚴格的(de)(de)要求,讀者(zhe)(zhe)必(bi)須著中式長衫(shan)或者(zhe)(zhe)西式襯(chen)衫(shan)西褲(ku)并衣(yi)著整(zheng)潔(jie)方可入內(nei),否則就要被擋在圖(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)館(guan)的(de)(de)大門(men)(men)之外。
1942年(nian)1月2日,華(hua)北(bei)政務委員會(hui)教育總(zong)署接管國立(li)北(bei)平(ping)圖書館(guan),并(bing)更名為國立(li)北(bei)京圖書館(guan)。1945年(nian)抗日戰爭結束后,該館(guan)復名國立(li)北(bei)平(ping)圖書館(guan)。
中(zhong)(zhong)華人民(min)共和國成(cheng)立后,于1950年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)3月(yue)(yue)6日(ri)國立北(bei)(bei)平(ping)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)更名為(wei)國立北(bei)(bei)京圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan),1951年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)6月(yue)(yue)12日(ri)更名為(wei)北(bei)(bei)京圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan),成(cheng)為(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)華人民(min)共和國唯一的國家(jia)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)。1987年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),北(bei)(bei)京圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)新館(guan)(guan)在(zai)白石橋路(今(jin)中(zhong)(zhong)關村南(nan)大街(jie))落成(cheng),該(gai)建筑還曾(ceng)被評為(wei)“八十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)代北(bei)(bei)京十大建筑”榜首(shou),館(guan)(guan)名由(you)鄧小平(ping)題(ti)寫。1998年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)12月(yue)(yue)12日(ri)北(bei)(bei)京圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan)更名為(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)國國家(jia)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)館(guan)(guan),1999年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)4月(yue)(yue)16日(ri)由(you)當時的中(zhong)(zhong)共中(zhong)(zhong)央總書(shu)(shu)(shu)記、國家(jia)主席江澤民(min)題(ti)寫館(guan)(guan)名。