Society and Book Culture: "The Siberian Books Benefit" Exhibition in Kemerovo

April 17, 2014, "The Siberian Book Benefit: from the collection of State Public Scientific and Technical Library of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences - Novosibirsk" book and illustrative exhibition opens in Kemerovo Regional Scientific Library named after V. D. Fedorov.

The exhibition is held under the interregional project "Central Libraries of Russia - to Kuzbass", initiated in 2013. The purpose of the project is to give Kuzbass residents an opportunity to meet with book monuments and specifically valuable books in the holdings of major libraries in Russia.

Over 20,000 rare books have been collected at the Department of Rare Books and Manuscripts of State Public Scientific and Technical Library (SPSTL) of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The exhibition presents rare books on the history of Siberia issued in XVIII-XIX centuries. Organized by SPSTL archaeological expeditions brought these books from the most remote corners of Siberia and the Far East.

The publications presented at the exhibition clearly prove a high level of spiritual culture of our compatriots getting settled in Siberia. Of particular interest will be the publications of foreign authors, traveling across Siberia and left vivid, rich memories of this plentiful region and its people. One of the books presented in this section is the publication of "Memories of Siberia" written by a British traveler Charles Herbert Cottrell. This book, containing sketches and maps, was published in London in 1842.

"Draft Book of Siberia" by Semion Remezov, which can be called the first Russian geographical atlas, will surely grab the viewers’ attention. It consists of a preface and 23 large maps covering the entire territory of Siberia, including the Kuznetsk Region.

The exhibition will run in the regional scientific library until May 28.