Andrei Halias

National Library of Belarus (NLB) is the main scientific and cultural center of the country, as well as the largest repository of books and documents. It was founded in 1922 as the library of the Belarusian State University (BSU), but a few years later became an independent institution. Throughout its history, the library has developed and expanded, becoming one of the most significant cultural institutions in Belarus.

The modern building of the National Library of Belarus is one of the <a href="https://findit.city/en/belarus/minsk/leisure/tourism/sights/map">most famous landmarks in Minsk</a> and an example of unique architecture. It is constructed in the shape of a rhombicuboctahedron — a complex geometric figure popularly referred to as a "diamond." Its height reaches 73.7 meters, the building has 23 floors, and its total weight, excluding books, exceeds 115,000 tons. The building covers an area of 19.5 thousand square meters, and the total volume of the structure exceeds 421 thousand cubic meters.

One of the building's unique features is its media facade, a LED screen with an area of 1,985 square meters. The lighting turns on every evening and operates until midnight, changing patterns and creating dynamic visual effects. This feature makes the library one of the key elements of the city's nighttime panorama.

The National Library of Belarus holds one of the largest collections of books and documents in the country. As of 2023, its collections numbered over 10.5 million items, including books, manuscripts, document microcopies, electronic and audiovisual materials. The collection covers more than 80 languages and includes both Belarusian publications and international documents. Among the collections are rare books, manuscripts, and early printed editions, with more than 90,000 items in total.

Today, the National Library of Belarus is not only a repository of books but also a multifunctional center offering a variety of services and opportunities for its visitors. The building is equipped with 17 reading rooms designed for 1,500 visitors. Special conditions are provided for users with disabilities: ramps, elevators, sanitary rooms, and mechanical lifts.

The library provides access to a vast database—by early 2023, users had access to 71 databases, including national, CIS, and foreign information resources. Readers can use services such as "Electronic Document Delivery," the "Virtual Legal Information Center," and other services available through the library’s internet portal.

One significant feature is the electronic library, which already contains almost 670,000 documents, making it the largest digital archive among Belarusian libraries. This allows remote users to access rare books, manuscripts, and other materials, as well as music and audio collections, which number tens of thousands of units.

The library is also an important socio-cultural and educational center. More than 200 events are held annually within its walls, including conferences, exhibitions, summits, and business meetings. The library has four art galleries ("Atrium," "Labyrinth," "Racurs," and "Panorama"), where permanent and temporary exhibitions are displayed. The Book Museum showcases more than 300 unique monuments of book art, including manuscripts and early printed editions, some dating back to the 15th century.

One of the most popular attractions for visitors is the observation deck located on the roof of the building. From a height of 73 meters, there is a panoramic view of Minsk. Visitors can take an elevator to the deck and walk across a glass bridge. Binoculars are provided for guests’ convenience, making the experience even more captivating. At the same level, there is a bar and one of the galleries, allowing visitors to enjoy the views and spend time in a comfortable environment.

The history of the new National Library building dates back to the late 1980s when architects Mikhail Vinogradov and Viktor Kramarenko developed the project for a building in the shape of a rhombicuboctahedron. This project won a national competition, but construction only began in 2002 and was completed in 2006. Today, the library is one of the brightest architectural symbols of Minsk and Belarus as a whole. In 2013, it was included in the list of "the most fantastic architectural works" by the American publication Flavorwire, and it has also appeared in Russian and international architectural publications.

National Library of Belarus (NLB) is not just a place for reading and studying books but also a cultural center that attracts tourists, researchers, and art lovers from all over the world. Its unique architecture, extensive collections, and modern technologies make it an important element of the country’s cultural landscape.

白俄罗斯国家图书馆 (NBB) 是该国主要的科学与文化中心，也是最大的书籍和文件储存库。它于1922年成立，最初是白俄罗斯国立大学 (BGU) 的图书馆，但几年后成为独立机构。在其历史发展过程中，图书馆不断扩展，成为白俄罗斯最重要的文化机构之一。

白俄罗斯国家图书馆的现代建筑是<a href="https://findit.city/cn/belarus/minsk/leisure/tourism/sights/map">明斯克最著名的地标之一</a>，也是独特建筑的典范。它的形状是一个菱方立方八面体，这是一种复杂的几何体，民间称其为“钻石”。建筑高达73.7米，共有23层，不包括书籍的重量，建筑总重量超过11.5万吨。建筑面积为19,500平方米，总建筑体积超过421,000立方米。

该建筑的一大特色是其媒体外墙，这是一个面积为1985平方米的LED屏幕。每晚灯光亮起，直到午夜，图案不断变化，创造出动态的视觉效果。这一设计使图书馆成为城市夜景中的关键元素之一。

白俄罗斯国家图书馆拥有该国最大的一批书籍和文件收藏。截至2023年，馆藏超过1050万件，包括书籍、手稿、文件微缩本、电子和视听材料。馆藏涵盖80多种语言，既有白俄罗斯出版物，也有国际文献。馆藏中包括90,000多件珍贵书籍、手稿和古籍。

如今，白俄罗斯国家图书馆不仅是书籍存储地，还是一个多功能中心，为访客提供多样的服务和机会。馆内设有17个阅览室，可容纳1500名读者。为残疾用户提供了特殊条件，如坡道、电梯、无障碍卫生间和机械升降机。

图书馆提供广泛的数据库访问服务——截至2023年初，用户可以访问71个数据库，包括本地、独联体和国际信息资源。读者可以使用“电子文献传递”、“虚拟法律信息中心”等服务，这些服务可通过图书馆门户网站访问。

其中一大特色是电子图书馆，目前已收录近67万件文献，使其成为白俄罗斯图书馆中最大的数字档案。这让远程用户能够访问珍贵的书籍、手稿及其他材料，还有包含数万件的音乐和音频收藏。

图书馆也是一个重要的社会文化和教育中心。每年在馆内举办200多场活动，包括会议、展览、峰会和商务会谈。图书馆拥有四个艺术画廊（“中庭”、“迷宫”、“视角”和“全景”），定期举办永久和临时展览。在图书博物馆中，展出了300多件独特的书籍艺术作品，包括手稿和古籍，一些作品可追溯至15世纪。

最受访客欢迎的地点之一是位于建筑顶层的观景台。从73米高的地方可以俯瞰明斯克全景。访客可以乘电梯到达平台，然后通过玻璃桥行走。为了方便游客，观景台还设有望远镜，增加了游览的乐趣。同一楼层设有酒吧和画廊，访客在享受美景的同时也可以舒适地度过时光。

白俄罗斯国家图书馆新建筑的建设历史可追溯至20世纪80年代末，当时建筑师米哈伊尔·维诺格拉多夫和维克托·克拉马连科设计了菱方立方八面体形状的建筑。该项目在全联盟比赛中获胜，但建筑直到2002年才开始建设，2006年完工。今天，该图书馆已成为明斯克乃至整个白俄罗斯最耀眼的建筑象征之一。2013年，它被美国杂志《Flavorwire》评为“最奇幻的建筑作品之一”，并在俄罗斯和国际建筑出版物中多次提及。

白俄罗斯国家图书馆 (NBB) 不仅是阅读和学习书籍的地方，还是一个文化中心，吸引了来自世界各地的游客、研究者和艺术爱好者。其独特的建筑、丰富的馆藏和现代化的技术使其成为国家文化景观的重要组成部分。