Chelyabinsk Regional Universal Scientific Library

Chelyabinsk Regional Universal Scientific Library was opened in 1898 as a free city library. By 1900, its funds included more than two thousand books, newspapers and magazines. Among the visitors were not only burghers, but also peasants quite actively involved in education. A special elective council supervised the activities of the library and replenished the funds.

A considerable contribution to the formation of funds and the development of the library was made by local local historians, scientists, representatives of the intelligentsia - their donations accounted for hardly a large part of the budget. By 1917, more than 10,000 volumes had been collected in the library. With the beginning of political changes in the country, during the revolution and the Civil War, the library was suspended and resumed only in 1919, and four years later it received the status of the central city public library. At that time, the library was based in a two-story mansion on Zwilling Street, and its visitors were several thousand people. At the same time, the active formation of a network of libraries in the region began.

In 1941-1945, the staff of the library took an active part not only in educational work, but also helped in enterprises and hospitals. In 1954, the public library received republican status, and in 1963 it moved to a new building. Over the years of the library’s work, its collections number more than a million items of storage and are constantly replenished with the latest samples of literature.