In 1909 a library was officially established at the University of Algiers. The library had one librarian and three supervisors. It consisted of a large reading room and three attached rooms on the second floor. It was then expanded and new warehouses were built, modifications were made at the reading room level, the administration's interests were expanded, a teachers' hall was allocated and a hall for indexing was set up.

The last significant event at the library was the fire of 7 June 1962, set by the French settlers in Algiers who had organized a secret militia organization (OAS) to carry out a policy of "scorched earth" before leaving Algeria. An International Committee for the Re-establishment of the University Library of Algiers (C.I.R.B.U.A) was established to collect national and international donations from various bodies, libraries and private library owners.