Frequently asked questions
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How does the library operate?Library hours:
Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PSummer hours (June 1 – August 31):
– reading rooms:
Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: closed
– library tours: daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
– observation deck: daily from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PMCleaning day: the last Monday of every month.
On the eve of national holidays, the library is open from 10:00 AM to 6:00PM. The library is closed on national holidays, Orthodox and Catholic Easter, and cleaning days.
The following departments and services operate according to separate schedules:
– Manuscript, Rare Book, and Early Printed Books Reading Room
– Interlibrary Loan and Documents Delivery Reading Room
– Exhibition of recent acquisitions
– Book Museum
– Library Tours
– Children’s Room
– Fitness Center
– Observation Deck -
How can I become a library member?
Citizens of the Republic of Belarus, foreign citizens and stateless people over the age of 14 can enroll in the library.
To obtain a library card, visit the User Registration Desk located in the Library's lobby and present one of the following forms of identification:
– a valid identity document:
passport;
Belarusian citizen ID card;
residence permit in the Republic of Belarus;
biometric residence permit for foreign nationals in Belarus;
biometric residence permit for stateless persons in Belarus;
refugee certificate;
– certificate of visual disability – for individuals who are blind or visually impaired;
– student ID – for students of vocational or secondary specialized institutions;
– university student ID – for students of higher education institutions;
– academic degree certificate – for research professionals;A library card is issued after payment.
Discounts or exemptions are not available.
The cost of a library card is 4.53 BYN.
You can read more about the registration process here.
Remote registration
is not available, and library cards are not issued online. -
How to re-register a library card?
A library card is valid for 5 years from the date of initial registration or the most recent renewal, provided the terms of use are followed:
– keep the ticket in its case to avoid damage;
– protect it from scratches, exposure to organic solvents;
– avoid exposing the ticket to direct sunlight, abrupt temperature changes, high humidity, and electromagnetic radiation;To extend the validity of your library card, visit the user registration desk and complete the re-registration free of charge.
You can find detailed information about the re-registration here. -
What to do if your card is lost, damaged or forgotten?
If you do not have your library card with you, a temporary card will be issued free of charge for that visit – up to five times per year – provided your card is valid and you have completed the renewal process.
If your card is lost or damaged, or if your name has changed, you can request a duplicate. The fee for a duplicate card is 4.53 BYN. No discounts or exemptions apply.
To receive a temporary or duplicate card, you must present one of the following identity documents:
– passport
– Belarusian citizen ID card
– residence permit in the Republic of Belarus
– biometric residence permit for foreign nationals in Belarus
– biometric residence permit for stateless persons in Belarus
– refugee certificate -
How to recover the password issued during registration in the library or Internet portal sign-up?Upon registration in the library or re-registration the library card, a password is automatically generated to access the electronic catalogue. The default password is your date of birth, entered as day, month and last two digits of year without spaces or periods.
You can change this password at any time via the electronic catalog or by contacting the user registration desk in the Library’s lobby, or call (+375 17) 293 28 54.
When registering on the library’s online portal, users create their own login and password. If you forget this password:
– go to the "Personal Account" login window on the portal and click the “Forgot password?” link. Enter your login or email and the CAPTCHA code. A password reset link will be sent to your email.
– alternatively, contact the portal’s technical support team: (+375 17) 293 28 92, (+375 17) 293 25 51, (+375 17) 293 25 21E-mail: webmaster@nlb.by
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What services does the library provide?
A full list of services provided by the library is available here.
Paid services are offered to library users in accordance with the Price List of Paid Services Provided by the State Institution “National Library of Belarus” (Price List).
The library also offers a range of virtual services with online payment options, including:
– coincidences detection;
– compiling bibliographies;
– editing a research paper bibliography;
– electronic document delivery;
– document indexing;
– measuring the productivity of the publications of an author/organization
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How can I order a coincidences detection using the “Antiplagiat” system?
You can check dissertations, term papers, theses, essays, articles, and similar documents for textual similarities using the “Antiplagiat” system. The results will be sent to your email address.This service can be accessed via the virtual service coincidences detection, or, for users with library card, it is also available in the Dissertation Reading Room (2nd floor, room 205c).
Service fees are determined in accordance with the Price List.
Phone: (+375 17) 293-28-64 or (+375 17) 293-27-18.
Email: apl@nlb.by
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Is it possible to take books and other materials from the library’s collection for home use?
Books, newspapers, magazines, and other materials from the library’s collection are not available for home borrowing. They may only be used within the library’s reading rooms.
However, the Individual Loan Service is available to certain registered users who reside in Minsk. This includes:
– candidates and doctors of science;
– doctoral and PhD students;
– graduate students;
– faculty of higher education institutions, colleges, and schools;
– researchers at scientific institutions;
– employees of industrial enterprises engaged in research and development.Documents borrowed through the Individual Loan Service are subject to a fee, in accordance with the Price List.
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How to find literature on the topic?
You can find literature on your topic in the following ways:
– search independently using the library’s electronic catalog, available both locally and online through the library's website, as well as its electronic information resources.
– ask a librarian for assistance at one of the help desks: in the “Atrium” gallery on the 1st floor, the Catalog reading room (“Atrium” galley, 2nd floor), or in the library's reading rooms.The library offers a literature search service (thematic reference) both free of charge and for a fee.
You can request a free list of up to 10 sources on simple topics through the following virtual services:
– the virtual reference service "Ask a Librarian";
– the legal information center online;
– the virtual reference service KORUNB.A paid literature search can be requested through the virtual service “Writing a thematic bibliography” or in person at the Information and reference service reading room (2nd floor, room 257) with a valid library card.
The lead time ranges from 3 working days to 1 month and depends on the complexity of the topic, the number of sources and the orders load.
Payment is made after the order is completed. The cost per bibliographic entry included in the list is calculated in accordance with the library's Price List.
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How to check the bibliographical list of literature for scientific works?
The library provides a paid service: editing a research paper bibliography. You can submit a request for this service through the virtual platform “Editing a Research List Bibliography”, or in person at the Information and reference service reading room (2nd floor, room 257) with a valid library card.
The lead time ranges from 2 to 10 working days and depends on the length of the list, urgency, its current condition and the orders load.
Payment is due upon completion and is charged according to the Price List.
In the library you can get free qualified help of bibliographers when self-writing by authors lists of literature for scientific works:
Qualified librarians are also available to assist authors in formatting their own bibliographies free of charge. You can get this help:
– at the Information and reference service reading room (2nd floor, room 257);
– during the library’s workshops “How to write a bibliography for scientific papers”, held on the last Wednesday of each month at 5:00 PM in room 308 (except during the summer months).
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How can I order digital copies of library document excerpts and receive them by email?You can request electronic copies of document excerpts through the virtual service “Electronic Document Delivery”. This is a paid service; fees are calculated in accordance with the Price List.
Phone: (+375 17) 293 27 14, (+375 17) 293 27 09 Email: edd@nlb.by
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How to take a tour to the Library?
The library offers a variety of library tours for visitors. All tours require advance booking.
To book a library tour, call: (+375 17) 293 29 66, (+375 17) 293 28 53 from Tuesday to Saturday, between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
Email: ekskursii@nlb.by
To book a tour of the Book Museum, call: (+375 17) 293 27 22.
The cost of the tour is determined according to the Price List.
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How can I visit the Observation Deck?
You can visit the observation deck on your own or as part of a library tour.
Admission is paid, and ticket prices are determined by the Price List.
The entrance to the observation deck and the ticket office are located at the back of the building. Tickets can be purchased directly at the ticket office or online. Details on how to register, select, and pay for tickets online can be found on the library’s website.
Mobile users can also download the library’s official ticketing app “nlb.by”, available for both Android and iOS devices.
Observation deck hours:
Monday to Sunday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM (last entry at 10:30 PM).The opening hours of the ticket office corresponds to the operating hours of the observation deck: Monday to Sunday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM.
Phone: (+375 17) 293 29 53.
Scheduled breaks of the ticket office: 2:00 PM – 2:15 PM, 4:00 PM – 4:15 PM,
6:00 PM – 6:15 PM, 8:00 PM – 8:15 PM. -
Where can I find information about events and exhibitions at the library?You can find out about the events and exhibitions (book and art exhibitions) that take place in the library:
– on the library’s website from the news feed and the events section;
Before visiting, we recommend confirming the details of any event or exhibition you're interested in by calling the library’s information line: (+375 17) 368 37 37.
– on the library’s social media pages;
– by calling the information line at (+375 17) 368 37 37. -
How can I donate books to the library?
Books can be donated to the “Correspondence and Literature Intake Point of the National Library of Belarus”, located at the service entrance. Donations are accepted: Monday to Thursday from 8:30 AM to 4:45 PM; Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
You can also leave books as a donation at the Information Desk in the Lobby of the library: Monday to Friday from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Phone: (+375 17) 293 25 20.
Email: fond@nlb.by -
How can I get information about the library?For information about opening hours, user registration and re-registration, terms of use of the library, terms of use of the reading rooms, services and virtual services, as well as events and exhibitions, please contact the library’s information line: (+375 17) 368 37 37.
The information service operates during the opening hours of the Library.
You can also ask questions and receive answers in real time via the online chat on the library’s website, available Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
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The Library on Social Media
