In 2017, the independent marketing research agency GfK conducted an online survey in 17 countries. The aim of the study was to identify the three winners in the category "The Most Reading Country in the World." Russia took second place, losing only to China. Based on the answers given by the respondents, the agency found that 60% of Russia's population read books at least once a week, and 35% said they try to read daily. In its findings, GfK mentioned that reading is part of the Russian mentality that has evolved over many centuries.
It's hard to believe, but the first public library appeared in the Russian Empire. On January 14, 1814, the Imperial Library opened its doors to visitors. Today in Russia there are already about 7000 public libraries. Some of them can boast not only their stock of printed publications, but also the scale.
The largest library in Russia
What is the largest library in Russia? The largest is the Russian State Library (RSL). In addition, it is one of the largest in the world, ranked fourth in the ranking. At the beginning of 2017, the fund of the Russian State Library totaled 46 million printed and electronic publications. Here, continuous work is underway on the digitization of paper documents, which allows preserving rare editions and ensuring access to the population through the Internet. The RSL electronic library contains more than a million copies of literary works and scientific works. The library has documents written in 367 languages of the world.
Location
Where is the largest library in Russia? The Russian State Library is located in Moscow. The total area is impressive and comparable to ten football fields. The RSL is located in three buildings at once. The first and main library building is located in Moscow on Vozdvizhenka Street, 3 Bldg. 5. This building was built in the 30s of the last century. In addition to it, the library has a book depository and a Pashkov house, built in the 18th century.
History of creation
The history of the largest library in Russia began in the 19th century with 28, 000 publications, which Count S.P. Rumyantsev donated on a voluntary basis to the Museum to them. Rumyantsev. In 1831, the museum opened to visitors. A feature of the museum was the ability to read book editions from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In 1845, he joined the Imperial Library and became the Imperial Public Library - the largest in Russia, where you can read books for free. To do this, the entire printing fund of the museum. Rumyantsev crosses from St. Petersburg to Moscow.
Relocation
By the time of moving the museum to them. Rumyantsev was desolate, the number of visitors was decreasing, the building began to decay, and the Committee of Ministers decided to transfer the museum funds to the Imperial Public Library. The largest library in Russia has found a new building on Vagankovsky Hill, better known as the Pashkov House.
The official date of creation of the library is June 19, 1862. Then Emperor Alexander the second signed the "Regulation on the creation of the library."
Fund filling
The main patrons of the library were Count Rumyantsev and Emperor Alexander II. After two years of the museum’s existence, its fund already amounted to 100, 000 books. The main source of replenishment remained gift editions.
The situation changed after 1913. To the 300th anniversary of the celebration of the Romanov dynasty, donations for independent purchase of books began to be allocated to the museum.
Soviet period and war years
Since childhood, many have been familiar with the name of the V. I. Lenin State Library of the USSR. That was the name of the largest library in Russia after the 20s of the last century. In 1924, the Institute of Library Studies was opened on its basis, the purpose of which was to teach librarianship of employees on the basis of two-year courses, there was a graduate school.
At the beginning of 1941, the library already has 10 million copies. Even during the difficult war years, employees continued their work. Everyone who could work continued to keep track of books and stock funds. The library received 6, 000 books, which have survived to this day. Often books were sent to the front.
In 1945, the library was awarded the Order of Lenin.
In the years after the end of the war, a dawn period begins for the institution. The new building needed to be mastered, filled with new literature, updated and replenished the fund.
A year after the end of World War II, an international forum was held in the library. And in 1947 at the State Library of the USSR. V. I. Lenin appeared conveyor for the delivery of books, in the same year, readers began to provide services of photographic copying of books.
In 1955, the library managed to return the subscription for foreign citizens.
By the 60s of the last century, the institution had grown and began to count as many as 22 reading rooms.
In 1983, the exposition of the Museum of the Book was opened on a permanent basis within the walls of the largest library in Russia, where readers can familiarize themselves with the history of printing and view rare editions stored in the museum.
Present
In 1992, the library was renamed, now it is called like this: Russian State Library. This name is retained for today. Any citizen of the Russian Federation from the age of 14 can get a library ticket.
In 2017, another significant event took place for the library. Now all the required printed publications published in Russia are received here electronically.
The library provides free access to the annual report on its development, anyone can see it on the official website of the RSL.
