Delhi Public Library is the principal public library of Delhi and one of India's designated National Depository Libraries. It was established on 27 October 1951 as a public library project jointly sponsored by the Government of India and UNESCO, and was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The project originated in 1944 when noted industrialist Shri Ramkrishna Dalmia, at the request of General Sir Claude Auchinleck, contributed financial support for the construction of the library. In 1955, the administration of the library was formally transferred to the Government of India, and since then it has played a pioneering role in the development of public library services in the country.

Today, the Delhi Public Library operates an extensive network comprising a Central Library, several branch and sub-branch libraries, a community library, resettlement colony libraries, a Braille library, mobile library services, and deposit stations across Delhi, serving hundreds of thousands of readers.

Under the Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act, 1954, the Delhi Public Library is one of the four National Depository Libraries entitled to receive a complimentary copy of every publication produced in India. This unique status has enabled it to preserve an invaluable record of the country's publishing heritage. The library also provides training facilities for students, researchers, library science professionals, and the general public.

Beyond lending books, the Delhi Public Library functions as a vibrant center for knowledge dissemination, information services, and cultural engagement. With a large registered membership, it supports reading, research, and lifelong learning through its wide range of services, including an online public catalogue. A selected portion of its valuable collection is also available through the Rekhta Digital Library, allowing readers and researchers around the world to access its rich Urdu literary heritage.