北京市东城区图书馆成立于1956年，是区政府兴办的综合性公共图书馆，是收集、整理文献，并向社会公众提供文献服务的公益性文化教育机构，是北京市精神文明先进单位。2013年，东城区图书馆更名为东城区第一图书馆。1998年、2003年、2009年、2013年被文化部评为地市级一级图书馆。2012年，获得“全民阅读推广示范基地”及“全国人文社科普及基地”称号；“书海听涛系列读者活动”荣获北京市学习品牌；荣获文化部颁发的“电子阅览室示范点”称号。2013年，图书馆荣获“第三届北京阅读季先进单位”称号。

　　现图书馆大楼使用于1996年，位于交通便利的交道口东大街85号，总面积11780平方米，它北倚国子监街，南眺文天祥祠、顺天府学，东连北京22中，西接东方文化交流中心而与文化馆、钟鼓楼相望，文化地理环境极为优越。

　　2007年10月至2008年5月，为了进一步改善读者借阅环境，提升图书馆服务水平与能力，更好地发挥其在公共文化服务体系建设中的作用，区政府投资3000余万元，对大楼进行了升级改造，现馆内设有第一外借室、第二外借室、少儿借阅室、综合阅览室、外文阅览室、创意文献阅览室、地方文献阅览室、政府信息查阅室、自习室、视障阅览室10个服务窗口，拥有各类文献近60万册（件），阅览座位700席，可上网电脑100多台，每年接待社会公众40余万人次，外借书刊30万册次以上，组织读者活动300余场次。

　　东城区图书馆会议中心内还拥有典雅庄重、温馨舒适的影剧院、展览厅、报告厅、多功能厅、会议室、培训教室，可向社会公众提供多种类型、层次的文化教育服务。

　　东城区图书馆的工作目标是通过追求文献利用率的最大化、追求读者满意度的最大化，从而实现图书馆社会文化价值的最大化，使之成为全国一流的、独具特色的、具有现代化管理水平的区级图书馆。

　　Beijing Dongcheng District Library was founded in 1956, which is a comprehensive public library established by Dongcheng District Government. It is a commonweal cultural institution which collects and tidies up the documents and provides documents service for public and it is also an advanced unit in spiritual civilization, As well as in 1998 and 2003, it was named one of the first-class libraries by the Culture Ministry .

　　The new building was opened to public in 1996 .It is located on Jiao Dao Kou East Street No.85 with convenient traffic. The total building area amounts to 11,780 square meters. On its north, it is the Imperial College Street, on its south ], it is Wen Tianxiang Memorial and State Shuntian School , No.22 Middle School of Beijing on its east and Dongfang International Cultural Communication Center on its west. There are other famous ancient buildings as its neighbors, Such as the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower. So the location of the library is perfect not only on the traffic condition but also on the cultural environment. 

　　In order to improve reader’s reading conditions further, provide public service level and play significant role in the public cultural service system construction, The District Government invested RMB30,000,000 to upgrade the project to the building from December 2007 to May 2008. Now the library includes 10 sections for service: Adult Lending Department, Children’s reading Room, Comprehensive Reading Room, Foreign Books Reading Room, Originality Literature Reading Room, Local History Collection Reading Room, Government Information Services Room and Self-study Room etc. The capacity of collection has reached more than 400,000 volumes and it has 700 seats and 100 sets of computers for Internet connection. Conference Center of Dongcheng District Library possesses of elegant and comfortable Theater, Exhibition Hall, Lecture Hall, Multi-functional Hall, VIP Room and Activity Room which provide all kinds and levels of culture services for public.

　　Through pursuing the maximum of social culture value and reader’s satisfaction as its target, the purpose of library is to realize the maximum of social cultural value and make itself as a first-grade with special features and modern management level in china.