This year, the Book Museum of the National Library of Belarus celebrates 15 years from its opening. The history of the Museum is an important part of the Library's history. We continue a series of publication-recollections about the Museum from its creators and associate experts.
Many specialists took part in the creation and development of the book treasury. Last time, Ms Tatsiana Roshchyna and Ms Tatsiana Sapeha were the first to share their memories. Today we bring to your attention a continuation – memories of Ms Maryja Shopina and Ms Natalja Martsinkievich, those among the founders of the museum space in the National Library.
Recollection No. 3
Author: Ms Natalja Martsinkievich
in 2005–2007 worked with the National Library of Belarus, was Head of the Museum and Excursion activities Department.
The creation of a Book Museum in the ultra-modern and unique building of the National Library required proper approaches. Handwritten and printed book monuments, which were supposed to appear before the eyes of readers and museum visitors, had to be stored in special conditions and exhibited for a short period. And the plan was to permanently exhibit more than 400 rare documents from the 70,000-strong collection of manuscripts, early printed books and rare editions. The initial task was to purchase special display cases with an internal microclimate, as well as equipment that would ensure constant temperature and humidity in the room. I remember the excitement of waiting for this new equipment. When we learned that it was already in Minsk, we were very happy.
Ms Natalja Martsinkievich on the balcony near the Book Museum, waiting for display equipment. The photo was taken in 2006.
A huge crane was required to deliver the display cases. They had to be lifted through the windows to the third floor. There was a very strong stormy wind the day the display cases were taken to the library. When the crane would lift another heavy display case, my heart would seem to explode.
Delivery of display equipment to the Book Museum. The photos were taken in 2006.
Thank God everything worked out! The display cases were successfully delivered, and some challenging work awaited us to fill them and create an exhibition. The official opening ceremony of the National Library of Belarus Book Museum took place on September 1, 2006. Today, the Book Museum complies with the latest requirements and, most importantly, is popular among both adults and the youngest visitors!
Ms Natalja Martsinkievich speaks at the opening ceremony of the Book Museum of the National Library of Belarus. The photo was taken on September 1, 2006.
Recollection No. 4
Author: Ms Maryja Shopina
since 2005 has been working with the National Library of Belarus in the field of museum and exhibition activities. In 2013–2021 she was Chief Librarian of the Museum Activities Section of the Bibliology Research Department, from 2021 to the present she has been Head of the Book Exhibitions Organization Section of the Gallery and Exhibition Department.
Ms Maryja Shopina in the Book Museum. The photo was taken in 2007.
With the construction of the new building of the National Library of Belarus, long-standing plans to create a unique public book museum became a reality. The book specialists already had a draft of a scientific concept that took into account the world's museum and library experience and called for further research and development. Thus, in 2006, we found ourselves in a room with many surprises, from the delivery and installation of the necessary museum equipment to the most urgent matter: "How can we quickly create a quality museum display out of a book collection of nearly 8 million books?" Specialists from the Bibliology Research Department came to the rescue. They expertly selected the books and patiently explained why they had chosen these particular exhibits. Ms Kirejieva, Ms Roshchyna, Ms Saverchanka, Ms Stankievich, Ms Vashkievich, and Ms Ramanova gave fascinating talks about books.
Ms Stankievich and Ms Shopina are in the process of creating an exhibition. The photo was taken in 2006.
We touched the living pages, we looked, we listened, and we became genuinely interested. Sometimes it seemed impossible to know, absorb and remember so much. But after a while, visitors to the museum were listening to our stories and were impressed by the Library book treasures. After a while, we could put together an updated exhibition of our own, we could choose and demonstrate a feature of this or that copy, we could start our story with any theme in the exhibition. The visitors discovered the book world together with us.
Ms Maryja Shopina conducts excursions to the Book Museum during Bibliotnight–2017. The photo was taken in 2017.
In 2016, on the eve of the anniversary of Belarusian book printing, we already worked on an exhibition that not only displayed old monuments of book-writing culture, but also illustrated through the exhibition "Francysk Skaryna and Our Time" how the images of Belarusian bookmakers are translated into contemporary culture. In 2017, we managed to explore a new exhibition space, use modern technology and new methods of work, creating a large-scale multi-project "Francysk Skaryna and His Age", which allowed the public to see and appreciate the importance of the national printed book heritage on a pan-European scale for the first time.
Ms Maryja Shopina was one of the main creators of the new exhibition space in the Library, where the exhibition project "Francysk Skaryna and His Age" was organized for the 500th anniversary of Belarusian book printing. The photo was taken in 2017.
In 2018, the Museum became a venue for every visitor to experience the only book that every literate person has read, the Primer, at the "Primers of the World" exhibition. Unique Belarusian primers from the earliest times (1618) to the present are in the centre of the exhibition space. There were a record number of visitors to "Belarus and the Bible" exhibition in 2019, and we were once again exploring new ways of working, creating a multi-project about the world's most readable, translatable and sought-after book – the Bible.
The exhibition programme was lively and almost non-stop. In the rare moments of exhibition dismantling, when the museum was temporarily closed, the exclamations of visitors could be heard at the door: "How come?" We really wanted to get to know the old books!" It means that no efforts of colleagues were in vain and it all worked out! I believe that the future holds many more unexpected, unexplored and glorious pages for the Book Museum
Book Research Department
