The Botoșani County Library Mihai Eminescu (Biblioteca Județeană „Mihai Eminescu” Botoșani) is the main public library of Botoșani County, housed in the former National Bank building in central Botoșani. The monumental headquarters was designed by architect Radu Dudescu and completed in 1926 for the local branch of the National Bank of Romania.
Although the library moved into the former National Bank building only in 2008, the institution itself dates back to November 14, 1882, when Botoșani’s public library was officially inaugurated alongside Boys’ School No. 1. It merged with the library of Laurian High School in 1885, but both collections were destroyed by fire in 1917. Rebuilding began after World War I, helped by donations that included around 2,000 volumes from zoologist Grigore Antipa. The institution passed through several administrative forms during the 20th century before becoming a county library in 1974 and taking the name of Mihai Eminescu in 1982, on its centenary.
The present headquarters was purpose-built as a bank and continued to serve the National Bank for most of the 20th century. The building passed into the administration of Botoșani County in 2004, after the closure of the county branch of the National Bank, and the library moved into it in 2008. Its original banking function is still evident inside, particularly in the heavy security fittings and surviving vaults. Two smaller safes and a large walk-in treasury remain on the ground floor, with the former main vault now used for book storage.
The 1926 building has a formal symmetrical façade centered on the main entrance, with tall windows, strong horizontal cornices and richly modeled architectural details giving it the imposing character expected of an interwar bank headquarters. A later adjoining wing was added in 1980, but the historic National Bank building remains the architectural centerpiece of the library complex.
The library holds roughly half a million books and other items across its collections. Among its specialist holdings is the Mihai Eminescu documentary collection, which includes rare editions, maps, medals, historic furniture and other material relating to the poet. The headquarters also contains the main reading room and several of the library’s lending and research departments. The library also uses the neighboring Moscovici House at Calea Națională 62 for additional departments and lending services.
