Under-reported until now is the scale of Chinese literature holdings at the NLR: around 50,000 books, 1,200 periodicals and 100 newspapers, covering a wide array of topics and historical periods.
Of particular note is a rare Chinese-edition copy of The Eastern Journey of Nicholas II (1890-91), of which only three copies were ever printed — a symbol of the long-standing historical and cultural engagement between Russia and China.
Director Denis Tsypkin of the NLR told Science & Technology Daily that the rapidly expanding Chinese literature collection is the result of active collaboration with the National Library of China and other Chinese libraries: “The Chinese literature collection … is the library’s fastest-growing collection, with over a thousand new Chinese documents added each year.”
He further emphasised the mutual interest in preserving and digitising library collections, in document restoration, and in promoting reading and literate societies. “For Russian libraries, China’s national policies, organisation and experience in supporting and researching reading are worthy of attention. Chinese library colleagues may also be interested in the experience of the Federal Center for the Preservation and Conservation of Collections … and its work in bibliographic theory and practice.”
The cooperation extends beyond holdings: the NLR hosted an exhibition titled “One War, One Victory” earlier this year, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance and the World Anti-Fascist War, highlighting how the histories of the two nations are intertwined.
Why this matters
The partnership is a model of international cultural cooperation and shows how major libraries are responding to the digital age by sharing expertise and collections.
For researchers, the strengthened ties between Russia and China offer expanded access to Chinese-language historical sources housed in Russia, and potential joint projects in digitisation and conservation.
For India and other nations: this kind of cross-border library cooperation may inform how we think about preserving multilingual heritage, diaspora materials, and international archival networks.
