Boris Yeltsin Presidential Library Президентская библиотека имени Б.Н. Ельцина

Overview

The Boris Yeltsin Presidential Library (Russian: Президентская библиотека имени Б.Н. Ельцина) is one of three national libraries of the Russian Federation, located in the historic Synod Building in central Saint Petersburg. Unlike Russia's other national libraries, which operate under the Ministry of Culture, the Presidential Library falls under the authority of the Directorate of the President of the Russian Federation. Its primary focus is a federal electronic repository of digitized documents on the history, theory, and practice of Russian statehood, the Russian language, and Russian culture.

History and Founding

The decision to create a Presidential Library was announced by President Vladimir Putin in his address to the Federal Assembly on April 26, 2007, with a formal order issued on January 31, 2007. The library was named in honor of Boris Nikolaevich Yeltsin (1931–2007), the first President of the Russian Federation, following a suggestion by Putin in April 2007. The library opened on May 27, 2009, on the All-Russian Day of Libraries, with President Dmitry Medvedev presiding over the inauguration ceremony. It is housed in the restored historic Synod Building, an eighteenth-century neoclassical structure adjacent to Senate Square.

Collections and Holdings

The library's collections encompass more than 800,000 unique documents in electronic form, including rare historical manuscripts, maps, photo albums, newspapers, monographs, and previously restricted archival materials. The collections focus on Russian statehood, law, culture, and history. Audio and video materials, photographs, and newsreel films are also held. The library operates 43 regional centers throughout Russia and more than 1,800 electronic reading rooms, as well as 39 electronic reading rooms in 14 foreign countries, ensuring broad access to its digital holdings.

Notable Materials Related to Media

The collections include digitized newspapers, periodicals, and official communications that document the evolution of Russian statehood and public life, as well as materials related to the political history of the Yeltsin era and post-Soviet transition.

Access and Usage

The library is open to the public and provides access through its main building in Saint Petersburg, regional centers, and electronic reading rooms across Russia and abroad. Registration is required for in-person access. The portal has been visited by several million remote users since 2009. Structural divisions are located in Moscow (reserve center) and Tyumen (regional branch).