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.
Many specialists took part in the creation and development of the book treasury. The first to share their memories were Ms Tatsiana Roshchyna and Ms Tatsiana Sapieha, the second – Ms Maryja Shopina and Ms Natalja Martsinkievich, Ms Tatsiana Zakharava and Ms Halina Lyskaviec were in the third part. Ms Halina Kirejieva was in the fourth. Today we bring to your attention a continuation – the memoirs of Ms Liudmila Silnova.
Recollection 8
Author: Liudmila Silnova
has been working at the National Library of Belarus since 1986, including in 2006–2007 as Leading Methodologist of the Museum and Excursion Activities Department, then as Chief Bibliographer of the Organization and Scientific Processing of the Collections Section of the Book Research Department.
Ms Liudmila Silnova was awarded a diploma at the Best in Profession competition. 2017
The Book Museum is the living heart of the National Library of Belarus. It beats in tune with the main processes taking place in the country and the world, has a branched structure of communicating vessels with other departments of the entire Library. It gives vitality to visitors of different ages, brings professional satisfaction to scholars, experts, collectors and bibliophiles. And how many different emotions the unique exhibits of the museum evoke! Such vivid emotions of amazement and aesthetic pleasure permeate the entire museum space that I was able to walk through back in 2005–2006, in the midst of the construction of the library building and the interior decoration of the rooms.
Participation in the creation of the exhibition of the Book Museum. 2006
At the beginning of 2006, there were only three people working in the Museum and Excursion Activities Department: Ms Natalia Martsinkievich Head of the Department, Ms Maryja Shopina, Museum Specialist and me, Methodologist, who came from the Belarusian Language and Literature Department and already had 20 years of experience in our Library. We were engaged in a variety of work: supervising the finishing work in the building that was still under construction, selecting equipment for the Museum, developing the concept of the first museum exhibition. It is important to note that the selection of exhibits, the creation of the museum display and writing the text for the excursion took place in close cooperation with the Book Research Department. Even the name for the first exhibition was invented as a team effort: "Rarities from the collections of the National Library of Belarus". We all felt a great responsibility towards the future, the staff and visitors of the Library.
After the grand opening of the Library on 16 June 2006, we offered guided tours to everyone from Minsk and other cities of the country, as well as to foreign guests. I co-authored, compiled and edited the first guided text for the exhibition, which was about 40 pages long. The first tours of the Museum were also entrusted to me. For the first six months, there was a real tour boom, with bookings for tours several months in advance. Each guide gave 4–6 excursions a day, and by the end of the day, we were literally falling off our feet.
In February 2007, I joined the Book Research Department, not only to admire books, to show them and tell others about them, but also to describe and study book artifacts. For many years I was invited to give tours of the museum, which I did with great pleasure. These amazing book treasures just made me fall in love with them!
Ms Liudmila Silnova was awarded a Certificate of Honour for her participation in the project of facsimile reconstruction of Francysk Skaryna's book heritage. 2018
In 2018, I was invited as a guest of the famous "Book Professors Club", where we talked about books and read poetry with young book lovers in the museum space.
The museum has also become home to my granddaughter Jana, who often used to come to museum club sessions with me.
Ms Liudmila Silnova with her granddaughter Jana. 2018
Book Research Department
