More than 2.5 million people use library services annually – Ministry of Culture

Belarusian Library Day will be celebrated on September 15. How many public book repositories work in the country, how their employees work with the audience – this was told to journalists on September 14 by a representative of the Ministry of Culture, reports the correspondent of the agency “Minsk-Novosti”.

- The total library network of the country as a whole has about 5,600 public and special libraries with a total fund of about 200 million units. According to the latest data, there are 2,100 such institutions operating in the country under the departmental subordination of the Ministry of Culture. Among them are the National Library of Belarus, 6 regional, 118 district central and 12 city central book depositories, the number of their branches is 1,963. There are 1,632 public libraries in rural areas, and 94 children’s institutions in the country, said Olga Makarova, chief specialist of the Department of Culture and Folk Art of the Ministry of Culture.

Despite digitalization, public libraries in Belarus are still relevant today. Their services are used annually by more than 2.5 million people, including 235,000 remote users.

- Young people under the age of 18 are also actively visiting libraries. The collection of books is constantly updated, so children can not only choose their favorite genre of literature, but also find popular novelties on the shelves of the institution. On average in the country, children and young people make up 41% of the total number of readers, said O. Makarova.

Residents from settlements where there are no stationary book repositories are served with the help of bibliobuses (mobile libraries). Their number is 102 units.

- It should be noted that the support of libraries in our country is carried out at the state level, where at least 12% of the amount allocated for the maintenance of these institutions should go to the acquisition of book funds. As of January 1, 2026, their total volume is more than $ 1 billion. Periodicals and brochures account for 82%, magazines and newspapers - 15%, other types of documents - about 3%. A significant part of the total library fund is still occupied by fiction, its 48%. Documents in the Belarusian language account for 19%, children’s literature – 23%, said O. Makarova.

At present, in addition to the main function of issuing books, public libraries of the country carry out socio-cultural activities. Employees of institutions conduct poetic marathons, patriotic actions, master classes, quests, competitions, and also invite writers who present their books.

- One of the popular forms of work to promote books is a cultural and educational action in support of reading, which was called “Bibliography”. The most important resources of public libraries are their employees. The profession is still female. Only about 4% are men. As of January 1, 6,065 employees were employed in the public library system. Of these, 60% have specialized library education, 56% have higher education, 44% have specialized secondary education, Makarova said.

Photo by Elizabeth Davidovskaya