The Chelyabinsk Regional Universal Scientific Library is also on the list of ten largest Russian libraries. CHOUNB during its existence has come a long way from a free city reading library to a modern information center.
CHOUNB in numbers
- The volume of the universal library collection is over two million storage units.
- The annual replenishment of the fund is 27-28 thousand copies of publications.
- The volume of the electronic catalog and other proprietary databases is over 400 thousand records.
- The annual number of users - visitors to the "public" site - is over 450 thousand.
- The annual number of visits is 360 thousand people.
- Visitors to mass events - over five thousand people.
- Workstations - over 80.
Institution History
The year of foundation of this oldest library in the Urals is 1898. After two years from the moment of its appearance, the volume of its fund has approached the two thousandth mark. At that time, peasants and philistines most often resorted to library services. The management and replenishment of funds was carried out by an elected council. The library received substantial assistance from the city intelligentsia: the annual budget was half of its donations.
Among the leaders of the institution was Lidia Nikolaevna Seyfullina (later became a famous Soviet writer). During the war years, the work place of librarians became chambers in hospitals, workshops at enterprises.
Since 1963, the Chelyabinsk Regional Universal Scientific Library began to be located on Lenin Avenue, in a real palace. The project, initiated by Moscow architect N. Sukoyan, was continued by young Chelyabinsk graduates of the Moscow Architectural Institute B.V. Petrov and M.P. Mochalova. According to some researchers, architects chose the Cleveland Public Library as an example to follow. Today the CHOUNB building is an architectural monument.
Library fund
The collection of the library is represented by the rarest manuscript and printed books. Among them are the book “Dioptra” (1612 edition) and “Grammar” of Meletius Smotrytsky (1648 edition). The most valuable exhibit - “The Ostrog Bible” by Ivan Fedorov - the Chelyabinsk Regional Universal Scientific Library acquired it at one time from Satka residents (they found a book rarity in the things of the deceased grandmother). The year of publication of the book is 1581. Currently, about three hundred preserved copies are scattered around the world.
The volume of the collection of unique collections is 12 thousand copies. This includes rare handwritten and printed books. In the library you can find books of the pre-revolutionary era, local history literature, periodicals over the past 120 years, a collection of music publications.
Also, the Chelyabinsk Regional Universal Scientific Library is proud of a remarkable collection of foreign literature. Today, over 60 thousand copies are stored here. The annual replenishment is 300-400 copies of book and periodicals.
The current state of the library
Currently, the Chelyabinsk Regional Universal Scientific Library is the largest book depository of the city, a modern automated information center. This is a venue for creative meetings, book presentations, meetings in interest clubs, a leisure center.
To satisfy readers' requests, modern information technologies are used. Library processes and operations, such as manning, processing and searching for incoming publications, are automated. The electronic catalog in the library was launched in 1994. From this time to the present day, priority has been given to the informatization and modernization of library processes in the institution's activities.
The Internet room allows you to use domestic and world information funds. External visitors can use electronic resources and services by contacting the official website of the Chelyabinsk Regional Universal Scientific Library. Photos of the library at different periods of its history are also presented here.
The institution has a leading role in developing a regional library policy. She is the initiator and developer of regulations in force in her field.
Contact Information
The contact information for the heads of units is contained in the “Cooperation” section on the official website of the institution, which is called the “Chelyabinsk Regional Universal Scientific Library”. Address institutions: Chelyabinsk, Lenin Ave. 60. You can get there by buses No. 4, 18, 64, 123, trolley buses No. 1, 8, 10, 17, 19, 26. Tram routes No. 3, 5, 7, 8 are also suitable here. 16 and numerous minibuses.