The Russian State Library is founded as the Library of the Moscow Public Museum.

The Russian State Library, located in Moscow, is one of the largest and most significant libraries in the world. Often referred to as Leninka (a nickname from its Soviet-era name, the V.I. Lenin State Library), it houses over 47 million items, including books, journals, maps, musical scores, and rare manuscripts. Established in 1862 as the library of the Moscow Public Museum and Rumyantsev Museum, it became the national library of the Soviet Union and later Russia. The library serves not only as a repository of knowledge but also as a vital research center, drawing scholars from around the globe, particularly for its extensive collections in Slavic and Russian studies.

The architecture of the main building is emblematic of Soviet monumentalism, with massive granite columns and a commanding bronze statue of Lenin at the entrance. Inside, it’s a blend of historic and modern spaces, including high-tech reading rooms and vast archival stacks. The library operates under legal deposit laws, meaning it receives copies of every publication issued in Russia. Over the years, it has digitized a significant portion of its collections, making them accessible to a broader audience. Though not open for general borrowing like public libraries, it offers extensive on-site access and interlibrary loan services, making it a critical hub for deep academic research.