Libraries and Society: The 50th Scientific Conference "Manuscript Depot", marking the 215th anniversary of the Manuscript Department, opened at the National Library of Russia

On March 11, 2020, the National Library of Russia is launching the 50th Scientific Conference "Manuscript Depot" (Saint-Petersburg).

This year's meeting is traditionally held on the day of the Manuscript Department's establishment. It is marking the 215th anniversary of the oldest department of the National Library of Russia.

The "Manuscript Depot" (now the Manuscript Department) was a special branch of the Imperial Public Library. It was established on March 11, 1805, by a rescript of Emperor Alexander I. It is the first Russian state depository of manuscript monuments, available to readers and researchers.

Today the Manuscripts Department includes 1521 collections. The Department is one of the ten largest manuscript depositories in the world.