The National Library is located in Qibla, on Arabian Gulf Street, between Al-Ma'ari Street on the east side and the Sadu House and the National Museum on the west side. It overlooks the Sief Palace Complex and Kuwait Bay beyond and its southern limit runs parallel to the southern extension of the proposed First Ring Road. The overall area of the site is 21,840 M2.

The Library's location is only a few minutes walk from the site of the first 18 th century settlement in Kuwait and preserved within its limits are the AlKhaled Mosque and Diwaniyah and the AshSharhan Mosque, all built in the 19 th century. Thus, in addition to being an important informational, cultural and educational resource for the State, the Library illustrates, by its context, its role as a link between Kuwait 's past and its future.

The design of the National Library includes two basements and four floors above ground: a Ground Floor, a First Floor, a Second Floor and a Third Floor. The two basement levels contain parking spaces for the library staff and VIP visitors in addition to offices for preservation of documents, the library security, a C4 shelter, an electric substation and mobile shelving with an automatic book retrieval system. The C4 civil defence shelter is provided with independent plumbing, water supply, electrical, HVAC & communication networks. Independent escape routes are also provided.


The Library's Ground Floor contains both public and service areas arranged to allow access to the most public spaces directly from the atrium. Adjacent to the main entrance, the café and gift shop are open to the atrium. Flanking the café is a corridor leading to a conference room, a multipurpose meeting room and the Diwaniyah. Walking through the atrium, visitors will find the Information and Security Desk in the center, separating the main lobby from the atrium. Across this desk is the entrance to the 275-seat auditorium.

Extending from the Library's lobby at the ground floor level are public library collections, including the Lending Library, the Children's Library, Youth Services' Library, the Interlibrary Loans, a Library for the Blind and Handicapped, and an Audio/ Video Library. Service areas on the ground level include Processing, the National Union Catalogue, the National Depository, I.T. and Training Rooms. At the First Floor level, contiguous with the lobby, two bridges span the atrium to the Kuwaitiana Collection that comprises of collections specific to Kuwait . Visitors pass through the glass wall of the atrium into the drum-shaped chamber of this unique collection. The Kuwaitiana Collection is housed in a two level space, with reading areas and study rooms on the main level, along with some book stacks.

A stair leads to a mezzanine level, which contains additional book stacks arrayed in a circle. Low reader tables line the perimeter of the main level of the collection, allowing panoramic views of the landscaped areas. The coffered ceiling design features an eight-sided star clerestory that filters sunlight into the space during the day and diffuses light at night. Special collections and administrative functions are housed on the Second and Third Floors of the library. Special collections include donated books, non-book collections, a rare book room, and the Center for Heritage. The national archives and a manuscript room are located close to the administrative suite, as is a large multi-purpose meeting room and gallery. The special collections are in dedicated suites, separated from the main corridor by glass walls and entry alcoves.

Sufficient space is allocated on the second floor for an IT Center. The National Library provides its various users with access to traditional print-form books, journals and special collection material and to a digital database of relevant information available regionally and elsewhere.