Russian State Library founded as Library of the Moscow Public Museum

Background. The Russian State Library is located in Moscow and serves as one of Russia's national libraries. Its origins trace to the opening of the Moscow Public Museum and Rumyantsev Museum in 1862. The library evolved from various collections, most notably Count Nikolay Rumyantsev's library and historical collection. These materials were given to the Russian people, forming the basis for the new public institution.

Founding. The library was founded on 1 July 1862, as Moscow's first free public library. It operated as part of the Moscow Public Museum and Rumyantsev Museum, often referred to as the Rumyantsev library. This establishment marked the beginning of the institution that would later become the Russian State Library, serving as a key cultural resource in the city.

Collections. The Rumyantsev Museum part of the complex housed the historical collection of Count Nikolai Petrovich Rumyantsev. This collection had been given to the Russian people and transferred from St. Petersburg. The library's foundation lay in these collections, which provided the initial holdings for the newly established public library in Moscow.