The NDL has its origins in the following three libraries: the Library of the House of Representatives and the Library of the House of Peers, both of which were established in each house of the Imperial Diet under the Constitution of the Empire of Japan; and the Imperial Library established under the Ministry of Education.
国立国会図書館の淵源は、大日本帝国憲法下の帝国議会各院に置かれていた衆議院図書館、貴族院図書館、および文部省に付属していた帝国図書館の3館にある。