The library of the Istanbul Department is the oldest and most extensive specialized library for classical studies in Turkey. It is one of the most frequented libraries of the DAI.

The library holds more than 72,000 volumes (as of December 2022) and more than 200 journals, with an annual growth of 1,000-1,200 books. Additionally, it is home to the collections of the Pergamon Library (c. 2,650 volumes) and the books donated from the estates of Ekrem Akurgal (Akurgal Library, c. 5,000 volumes) and Martin Bachmann (Bachmann Library, c. 1,000 volumes). All volumes and journals are entirely digitally indexed via iDAI.bibliography / Zenon and the library's data flows into the structures of iDAI.world. Furthermore, the DAI Library is virtually connected with 13 Istanbul research libraries via the online platform BiblioPera (https://bibliopera.org/) of the Beyoğlu Research Centers Network.

The library is open to all interested visitors. It provides a wide range of literature on all periods of the cultural history of Turkey and neighbouring regions as books and digital media, ranging from the prehistory of Turkey, Near Eastern Archaeology, Classical Archaeology of Turkey and the Eastern Mediterranean, Byzantine Studies / Christian Archaeology, the material culture of the Eastern Mediterranean up to the 19th century, as well as the urban history of Istanbul up to the present. In addition, there are extensive collections on areas such as building research, monument restoration/preservation and site management, all of which are central to Turkey's rich cultural landscape.

The library of the DAI in Istanbul is also an important cultural archive. Due to its long collection history and the fact that it survived the Second World War undamaged, it is home to an extraordinary number of rare books, some unique in Turkey, and an extensive collection of maps, not only of Turkey but the entire Eastern Mediterranean. At the moment, these maps are gradually being integrated into iDAI.world.

The library's significance stems from its unique location at the intersection of different scholarly landscapes and traditions. Therefore, it not only covers the international literature on the cultural history of Anatolia but also makes the rich literature on ancient studies in Turkish available to an international audience on a unique scale.