National Library of Georgia

National Library of Georgia
Name	National Library of Georgia
Established	1846
Location	Tbilisi, Georgia
Collection size	over 6 million items

National Library of Georgia is the premier repository of printed and manuscript heritage in Tbilisi, serving as a central hub for preservation, scholarship, and public access. Founded in the mid-19th century, the institution connects Georgia's literary traditions with international networks including British Library, Library of Congress, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Vatican Library, and Russian State Library. It supports research across fields such as philology, history, and theology while maintaining ties to cultural bodies like the Georgian National Academy of Sciences and international organizations including UNESCO and IFLA.

History

The library traces its origins to 1846 during the era of the Russian Empire and developed through key periods including the Russian Revolution, the Soviet Union era, and Georgia's post-Soviet independence after 1991. Influential figures linked to its development include collectors and scholars associated with the Tbilisi State University, patrons connected to the Bagrationi dynasty, and cultural reformers influenced by contacts with institutions such as the Hermitage Museum and the Austrian National Library. The collection expanded through major acquisitions, donations from families like the Orbeliani family, and transfers tied to events such as the Treaty of Georgievsk aftermath and the reorganization of archives following the October Revolution.

Collections and Holdings

Holdings encompass manuscripts, printed books, periodicals, maps, photographs, and musical scores, including items in Georgian, Armenian, Greek, Persian, Arabic, Russian, Latin, and Ottoman Turkish. Significant related institutions and comparative collections include the Metropolitan Museum of Art holdings, the manuscript catalogs of the Bodleian Library, and archival parallels with the National Library of Scotland. The library preserves medieval treasures connected to monastic centers such as Gelati Monastery, Ikalto Monastery, and Vardzia, and houses documents relevant to figures like Ilia Chavchavadze, Shota Rustaveli, David IV of Georgia (David the Builder), and Queen Tamar.

Architecture and Buildings

The main edifice in Tbilisi reflects architectural dialogues with landmarks such as the Rustaveli Avenue ensemble and echoes of styles seen in the Palace of Justice (Tbilisi) and the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre. Architectural influences and collaborators have engaged with restoration practices similar to projects at the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and conservation protocols akin to those at the State Tretyakov Gallery. The library's physical plant includes reading rooms, conservation laboratories, and storage designed to international standards comparable to those at the New York Public Library and the National Library of Spain.

Services and Digital Initiatives

Services extend to reference, interlibrary loan, bibliographic services, and digitization projects interoperable with regional networks like the Caucasus Research Resource Centers and international platforms modeled after Europeana and Google Books. Digital preservation follows frameworks discussed at International Organization for Standardization conferences and collaborations with institutions such as the Max Planck Society and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Public programs leverage partnerships with cultural sites including the Georgian National Museum and academic partners such as Ilia State University and the European University (Tbilisi).

Governance and Administration

Administration aligns with norms observed in national institutions like the National Archives of Georgia, overseen by boards and officials who liaise with bodies including the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia and consult with international funders such as the World Bank and European Commission cultural programs. The library's policy frameworks reference standards promoted by UNESCO and professional networks such as the Association of European Research Libraries.

Cultural and Educational Programs

Public engagement includes exhibitions, lectures, and outreach in cooperation with cultural festivals and events such as Tbilisi International Film Festival, the Tbilisi Jazz Festival, and collaborations with museums like the Open Air Museum of Ethnography. Educational offerings connect to curricula at Tbilisi State Conservatoire, Caucasus University, and secondary institutions, while scholarly symposia attract participants from institutions such as Columbia University, Heidelberg University, University of Oxford, and the School of Oriental and African Studies.

Notable Manuscripts and Rare Items

The rare collection features illuminated manuscripts and codices comparable in significance to items in the Codex Sinaiticus and manuscripts studied at the Institute for Advanced Study. Holdings include medieval Gospel books, palimpsests, early printed editions, and archival documents tied to dynastic archives such as those referencing Bagrat III of Georgia and diplomatic correspondence with the Ottoman Empire and Safavid Iran. The library safeguards unique parchments and early prints by authors related to Shota Rustaveli, Ilia Chavchavadze, Alexander Chavchavadze, Paolo Iashvili, and manuscripts reflecting liturgical traditions of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Category:Libraries in Georgia (country) Category:Buildings and structures in Tbilisi