National Library of the Udmurt Republic

Overview

The National Library of the Udmurt Republic (Natsional'naia biblioteka Udmurtskoi Respubliki) is the largest universal public library in Udmurtia and the principal library institution of the Udmurt Republic, a federal subject of Russia located in the Volga Federal District. The library is located on Sovetskaya Street in Izhevsk, the capital of the Udmurt Republic. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, Press, and Information of the Udmurt Republic.

History and Founding

The National Library of the Udmurt Republic was founded on May 15, 1918, shortly after the Russian Revolution, making it one of the oldest cultural institutions in the region. The Udmurt Republic itself underwent several administrative name changes during the Soviet period—Votskaia Autonomous Oblast' (1920), Udmurt Autonomous Oblast' (1932), and Udmurt Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (1934)—before becoming the Udmurt Republic within the Russian Federation in 1991. The library has served the region's population through all these transformations, functioning as the repository of documentary heritage for the Udmurt people and the broader Udmurtia region.

Collections and Holdings

The National Library of the Udmurt Republic holds:

• General universal collections serving all subject areas
• A rare book collection on Udmurt culture and history from the late 19th and early 20th centuries
• Local history (kraevedenie) collections: books, sheet music, maps, legal documents, electronic publications, and periodical articles pertaining to Udmurt history
• Electronic library catalog covering all holdings received since 1988 (with older records being added)
• An Analytical Database of Articles (social sciences and humanities, from 2005)
• Access to the national electronic library of the Udmurt Republic, including electronic versions of regional newspapers and periodicals

The library serves approximately 17,000 readers annually with a circulation of around 400,000 documents per year, and its website receives approximately 1.7 million visits per year.

Relevance to Journalism and Media Research

The library maintains extensive holdings of Udmurt-language and Russian-language regional newspapers and periodicals, including historical titles such as Sovetskoi Udmurtiia (founded 1918) and Udmurtskaia pravda (founded 1917). These collections are essential for research into the history of journalism in the Udmurt Republic and minority-language press in Russia.

Access and Usage

The library is open Tuesday through Friday, 10:00–21:00, and Saturday through Sunday, 10:00–18:00. It is closed on Mondays and public holidays. Online catalog and electronic library services are available via the library's website.