History of the National Library
The history of Belarus’ main library began in 1922 when it was founded as the library of the Belarusian State University. Initially, its collection consisted of 60,000 items. In 1926, it became an independent institution and received its own building designed by the famous Belarusian architect Georgy Lavrov. During World War II, the library lost a significant portion of its collection, but it began its revival in the postwar years.
Modern Building: An Architectural Masterpiece
The new library building project was selected in 1989 during an all-Union competition. Architects Viktor Kramarenko and Mikhail Vinogradov proposed a unique rhombicuboctahedron shape, symbolizing the value of knowledge. Construction began in 2002, and the grand opening took place on June 16, 2006.
The National Library of Belarus is located in the park area of the Slepyanskaya water-green system. A bronze statue of Francysk Skaryna, the first Belarusian printer, stands in front of the entrance.
Guided Tours of the National Library
The National Library offers a variety of tours for visitors. Popular options include a general tour with a visit to the Book Museum and a thematic tour "Minsk at a Glance" with access to the observation deck. Children’s tours and birthday celebrations at the library are particularly popular.
The National Library Today
Today, the National Library is a modern information and cultural center with a collection of over 9 million items. Visitors have access to printed editions, old books, rare manuscripts, maps, dissertations, and electronic resources.
