Founded in 1537 during Ottoman rule, this library holds one of the most important collections of Islamic manuscripts in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The collection miraculously survived through the Bosnian war and the Siege of Sarajevo. The manuscripts were moved eight times during the nearly four-year siege of the city. To have a record, the Library started to microfilm the most significant library materials during the war. The necessary equipment was delivered through the Sarajevo War Tunnel, which was the only way to enter or leave the besieged city during this time. By the end of the siege in 1995, over 5,000 photographs had been made on 20 roles of microfilm while under attack with no running water or electricity.