Where to read books in Almaty -
National Book Depository of Kazakhstan -
The National Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan is not just a repository of books, but one of the most important cultural and spiritual centers of the country. It is located in the center of Almaty and is one of the largest libraries in Central Asia. The history of the library began in 1910, when a small Vernon city library was opened in the city of Vernon (present-day Almaty). Over time, it grew, collecting rare publications, archival materials and scientific works, and during the Soviet period it received the status of the main library of the republic. In 1991, after gaining independence, it was named the National Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Next to the library is the Lermontov Theater, which is very popular as the center of cultural life in the southern capital. There is also a small park next to the Almaty city library, which has benches and a fountain where you can read a book taken from the library.
How to get there and visit -
The National Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan is located at 14 Abai Avenue, between Zheltoksan Street and Bayseitova Street, Bostandyk district, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 43°14'28"N 76°56'35"E
Working hours: Tuesday-Sunday from 09:00 to 20:00
Monday – closed
Contacts: +7 727 267 28 49; +7 727 267 28 83
Information -
The National Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan is interesting not only for researchers and students, but also for travelers who want to learn more about the culture of the country. By visiting it, you can touch rare publications, get acquainted with unique expositions and even get to thematic exhibitions or literary evenings. For the guests of Almaty, the library becomes a real cultural route – the spirit of the intelligentsia, creativity and history is felt here. The library's collection includes millions of books, magazines, manuscripts, old prints and rare documents. It houses unique collections, including works written in the ancient Turkic language, 19th-century publications, and archival documents on the history of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The library is a member of international associations and cooperates with the world's largest libraries and universities.
The modern library building is distinguished by its strict architecture and spacious reading rooms. It is equipped with electronic catalogs, multimedia resources and research centers. The library is actively implementing digital technologies, creating electronic archives and databases. Thus, a visit to the library can be included in cultural tours of Almaty.: This is a great opportunity to combine acquaintance with the natural beauties of the city and the mountains of the Trans-Ili Alatau with the spiritual and intellectual riches of Kazakhstan.
The National Library of Kazakshtan in Almaty plays a huge role in the cultural life of Kazakhstan: exhibitions, conferences, meetings with writers and scientists, presentations of new books are held here. It is a place where the memory of the people, their spiritual heritage and invaluable knowledge are kept. This library is a symbol of Kazakhstan's commitment to the development of science, education and the preservation of national identity, as well as a bridge connecting the country's past and future.
Halls of the National Library of Kazakhstan:
1. The hall named after Oraz Zhandosov, the first director of the library, thanks to whom the book fund was significantly replenished with publications in the Kazakh language.
2. A hall for researchers named after Umirbek Sultangazin– an academician and mathematician who made a significant contribution to science.
3. Hall of World Literature – books and publications from Turkey, China, Russia, Iran, Korea, India, France and many other countries.
4. The hall of periodicals – Kazakhstani and Russian newspapers and magazines on economics, history, medicine, culture, agriculture and other fields.
5. The Art Hall – literature on various fields of art, the country's largest collection of sheet music, a collection of vinyl records of domestic and foreign production.
6. Reference and information service hall – reference books, encyclopedias, dictionaries and other sources for knowledge search.
7. The Hall of Rare Books and Manuscripts – more than 40,000 unique copies in Kazakh, Russian, Eastern and European languages. Among them: the 12th-century Koran, Ferdowsi's Shahnameh in the Chagatai language (18th century), the works of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi and Suleiman Bakirgani, included in UNESCO's Memory of the World program, as well as rare newspapers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
8. Salyk Zimanov Dissertation Hall – more than 70,000 PhD and doctoral papers from the CIS countries are stored.
9. Catalogues Hall – alphabetical, systematic and thematic indexes.
10. The Hall of National Bibliography is a space for studying and systematizing the book heritage of Kazakhstan.
11. Rabiga Berdigalieva Library Science Hall – dedicated to the science of librarianship.
12. The Hall of Kazakh National Customs and Traditions is a cultural space where materials about the heritage and identity of the people are collected.
13. The Nurzhamal Dauletova Hall is a venue for cultural events, designed for 100 guests.
14. The Great Hall is a spacious hall with 300 seats for lectures, meetings and significant events.
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