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15.11.2022Samarkand Quran in the Public Library (1870–1917)
The online exhibition is devoted to the early Samarkand Quran, a unique landmark of world literature that was kept in St. Petersburg Imperial Library (now National Library of Russia) for half a century.
The history of this manuscript is steeped in legends and stretches back centuries. For a long time it was believed, and many continue to believe so far, that the Samarkand Quran was copied by the eminent companion of the prophet Muhammad, the Caliph Uthman (‘Osman; rights. 644–656) and, moreover, that the Caliph was murdered while he was reading this book and it is stained with his blood. The legend gave the title of the "Uthman Quran" to the book.
08.11.2022International Video Conference ”Library Services on Three Continents”
On November 15,12:00 a.m. (Moscow time), the premiere of the International videoconference "Library Services on Three Continents" will take place. Reports will be presented by thirty-five experts from national and public libraries and educational institutions from 20 countries on three continents: Eurasia, Africa and South America.
17.10.2022Aldine Press: the Founding of the Printing Company
The National Library of Russia presents the online exhibition "Aldine Press: the Founding of the Printing Company". The exhibition tells about the Venetian printer Aldus Manutius, the founder of the famous Aldine Press, who created the first italic types and printed the celebrated portable editions of Greek and Latin classics. The National Library of Russia has over 900 Aldine volumes produced in the 15th -16th centuries in the Renaissance Venice.
30.09.2022Ancient Egyptian Papyri in the National Library of Russia
The online exhibition features the four earliest books cared for by the National Library of Russia. All four are ancient Egyptian funerary scrolls from the Theban necropolis, dated back to the 10th–9th centuries BC. These four fragments from the funerary texts are written on papyrus in hieratic script and decorated with illustrations, depicting gods and priests.
Digital Library
The Digital Library of the National Library of Russia is an open and generally accessible information resource. As of the beginning of 2019, the Digital Library includes over 650,000 scanned copies of books, magazines, newspapers, music publications, graphic materials, maps, plans, atlases, and audio recordings.
Voltaire Library
European cultural heritage is well represented in our collections. Among others, they are particularly rich in French material. One of the most important monuments of the eighteenth-century European culture is the Voltaire Library. The library consists of approximately 7000 volumes, of which one third contains the writer’s notes.
Online Exhibitions
Here you can find a presentation of several exhibitions held at the library. You can see examples of unique, rare and most precious items from the holdings of the National Library of Russia. The exhibitions show materials from the Manuscripts, Rare Books, Maps, Prints, and Russian Books Collections.
Reading Rooms
Access to the Library’s world-famous collections is through our reading rooms. Within the rooms, you can view items from our collections; get assistance from our qualified specialists; access electronic resources including our online catalogues, digital library, remote subscription resources; use our computers and Internet for free. Find details about the opening times and location of the reading rooms of the National Library of Russia as well as information about admission to them.
Tours round the Library
The Library offers a variety of guided tours. General tours includes visits to all places of interest in the Library. You will see how books are stored, get information about the history and architecture of the Library, learn more about its collections and the most famous curators. Visitors also may arrange special tours with focus on the Manuscripts Department, Voltaire's Library, or the Rare Books Department that houses the collections of West European and Russian early printed books, the Petrine collection, Aldine editions and Elzevier volumes.