Turkey is one of the ancient areas of the Western world. It has been a crossroads of culture throughout its rich history. Its art and architecture have been influenced by powers such as the Byzantine Empire, the Roman Empire, and the Ottoman Empire. The history of Turkey's libraries goes back to the second century B.C. according to the Goethe-Institut (2010b). Turkey housed tremendous ancient libraries, such as the Library of Celsus in Ephesus and the Library of Pergamon in the Byzantine period. During the Ottoman Empire, libraries were also important, and many valuable manuscripts from that time are preserved in Turkey's current libraries and museums. During his rule, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk--known as "father of the Turks"--replaced the traditional Ottoman-Arabic script then in use among the literate elite with Latin characters, opening literacy to a far broader portion of the country's population. Turkey's palaces and museums contain many treasures and have varied architectures that encompass many cultures, periods, and religious and political influences. Its national and public libraries are considered part of Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The ministry also oversees many of the country's museums and other cultural institutions. The Topkapi Palace Museum is one of Turkey's most visited and well-known tourist sites. Turkey has a tremendously rich history due partly to its experience of the rise and development of the ancient Near East and the Western world, along with many historical clashes of both. It continues to have a rich and diverse contemporary culture, in which libraries and librarians strive to make cultural material widely available. (Contains 4 figures.)