Tver Order "Badge of Honor" Regional Universal Scientific Library

The public library in Tver opened on May 9, 1860 (according to the old style). A distinct movement for the construction of the library began in 1858 against the backdrop of a social upsurge in Russia in the late 1950s, the development of publishing, supplemented by local factors: the activities of a group of liberal nobles led by A. M. Unkovsky , who stood for the complete liberation of the peasants and protested against the ban to discuss the peasant question; the presence in the city - in exile - of people of different ideological orientations, but equally objectionable to the government: among them are M. I. Muravyov-Apostol , F. N. Glinka , F. M. Dostoevsky , A. I. Europeus, F. G. Toll , V.V. Bervi-Flerovsky , V.K. Kurnatovsky .

Undoubtedly, their presence influenced the mentality of local society, contributed to the popularity of the ideas of social change, the enlightenment of the people. The documents of the regional archive reflect the energetic activity of liberal-minded officials from the provincial authorities, private individuals in organizing the library: requests were made to Ryazan and Simbirsk, who had previously opened libraries, asking for advice in a new business for Tver, to get acquainted with the charter; appealing to people who have the opportunity to help create a new institution. The Governor Count P.T. Baranov apparently encouraged these efforts. The provincial statistical committee, headed by him, took upon himself the main efforts to create a library. Organizational affairs were entrusted to the Provincial Committee Worker Nikolai Ivanovich Rubtsov.

With the help of the public, they raised money and a book fund, which included most of Rubtsov’s personal library, other donors, the books of the statistical committee, and the office of the governor. According to the results of 1908, the fund had 26 thousand volumes, the number of subscribers - 400, visits in the reading room - 9 thousand, its use was free ^[1] .

Since 1918 it was called the central city library, since 1935 - the regional universal scientific library (OUNB) of the Kalinin region. As of June 1, 1941, the book collections of the regional library totaled 206.5 thousand copies, including a rich collection of local history and rare publications. During the occupation, the library building was destroyed, funds were lost, but already in March 1942 the library resumed operation ^[2] . To restore the funds, books were collected from readers and in the ruins of houses, bought from the population. State Library named after V.I. Lenin sent 10 thousand editions, about 1000 copies. - All-Union Library of Foreign Literature , 1500 - History Museum ^[1] .

In October 1954, the ONUB received a new building, the first in the country built according to an original project designed by architects I.P. Izotov ,
D. N. Melchakova specifically for the regional library ^[3] . The surviving walls of the portico of the Church of the Sign of the Mother of God, destroyed during the war, were organically inscribed in the project of the main entrance of the building. The library has become the venue for conferences, lectures, literary and musical evenings.

In 1975, an extension was built according to the project of the architect B. H. Balshweidt, equal in area to the main building. The total area is more than 10 thousand meters.

In 1985, by a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the library was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor ^[1] .

Currently, the library stock is 2 916 315 copies, including 2 899 973 copies. printed documents, 3,418 copies. electronic publications ^[4] , 12 924 copies. audiovisual materials ^[5] . Tver OUNB them. Gorky AM is a regional center for the storage and distribution of the collection of domestic and foreign print works, a local history depository, a regional bibliography center for the region, a center for information services on cultural and art issues, socio-economic problems, a scientific and methodological center for municipal libraries in the region, a coordination and cooperation center all types of activities among departmental libraries of the region ^[2] .

The electronic catalog of the library has been maintained since 1992. It includes books, audio, video and electronic publications, and has more than 110 thousand bibliographic records.

The library offers several reading rooms, free Wi-Fi, Internet resources, electronic publications, exhibitions, concerts, interest clubs, etc. There is a service for delivering books to people with disabilities. In June, the summer reading room “Book Tent” opens in the library courtyard. The library annually participates in the Tver Book Week, the Bibliochnoch campaign, is a member of IFLA , the international organization of library societies and associations.

Library website http://tverlib.ru/ru/