On November, 18th, the Grodno Regional Scientific Library named after E.F. Karsky hosted the presentation and donation ceremony of the first five books of the facsimile edition The Book Heritage of Skaryna.

Representatives of cultural, scientific and educational institutions of the Grodno Region took part in the event.

Pavel Skrobko, head of the Main directorate of the ideology, culture and youth affairs made a welcoming speech.

Director of the National Library of Belarus R.S. Motulsky acquainted the guests with the project. It is timed to the 500th anniversary of Belarusian book-printing and represents the first facsimile edition of the complete set of books printed by F. Skaryna in Prague and Vilnius. The project is designed for 2013–2017 and is carried out by the National Library of Belarus and the BelVEB Bank. In 2014, the first five volumes have been published.

Director R.S. Motulsky emphasized that complete translations of Skaryna’s original texts made within the bounds of the project were the first experience of this kind. For a better understanding of the contents each edition is accompanied with scientific comments and explanations. A professional team of known bibliographers, historians, linguists, literary critics and cultural historians is created to perform these tasks. Such a complex approach allows showing the richest book heritage of the Belarusian first printer and acquainting mass reader with all the variety of his creative activity.