The National Library of Russia

Imperial Public Library 1795-1917; Russian Public Library 1917-1925; State Public Library from 1925-1992 (since 1932 named after M.Saltykov-Shchedrin); abbr. NLR, Российская национальная библиотека

Founded in 1795. Built by architect Yegor Sokolov specifically to be the Imperial Public Library. The library was opened in 1814 and since 1810 received a specimen copy of all domestic publications. It did not close even during the Leningrad blockade. The library is one of the largest in the world, its pool of more than 33 million books and documents. It has the largest collection of books in Russian in the world. There are such masterpieces as Ostrom Gospel 11th century (the oldest surviving book in Old English), fragments of the Codex Sinaiticus 4th century (in ancient Greek), Petersburg Code XI century (in Hebrew). Other units at Krylov House, Information Center, Bookshop M-Sa 10.00-20.00 (20, Sadovaya Street) & at New Building (165/2, Moskovsky Prospekt, hours=Newspapers M-F 09.00-21.00, Sa Su 11.00-19.00) & at The Building on the Fontanka Embankment (36, Fontanka Embankment; hours=Newspapers M-F 09.00-21.00, Computer Center M-F 13.00-21.00, Sa Su 11.00-19.00 ) at Liteyny Prospect's Asian & African Collection (49, Liteyny Prospect, hours=M-F 12.00-20.00) at Plekhanov House (1/33, 4th Krasnoarmeyskaya Street, hours=M-F 09.00-17.00)

• history

Address

Nevsky Prospekt (Невский проспект), 37/18

Getting there

on the corner of Nevsky Prospekt and Sadovaya Street

Hours

Universal room, Manuscripts Mon-Fri 09.00-21.00, Sat Sun 11.00-19.00. European Books (-1940), Library Science Mon-Fri 09.00-21.00, Sat 11.00-19.00, Sun closed. Exhibition of Recent Acquisitions, Manuscripts Mon Wed-Fri 09.00-21.00, Sat Sun 11.00-19.00. Prints Mon Wed Fri 13.00-21.00, Tue Thu 09.00-17.00; Sat 11.00-19.00. Rare Books Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00. Computer Center Mon-Fri 09.00-21.00; Sat Sun 11.00-19.00. Archive Tue Thu 12.00-17.00; Wed Fri 10.00-15.00. Maps, Legal Information Center Mon Wed 13.00-21.00, Tue Thu Fri 09.00-17.00, Sat 11.00-19.00. Xerocopy Service Counter Mon-Fri 10.00-16.00 & 16.30-20.00, Sat Sun 11.00-15.30. Copy Desk for External Customers (separate entrance in Sadovaya str.) Mon-Fri 10.00-12.00, 13.00-17.00

Phone

+7 812 3107137

Website

nlr.ru (opens in a new tab)