Lviv V. Stefanyk National Academic Library

Lviv V. Stefanyk National Academic Library was founded on 2nd January 1940 and today this Library is one of the leading Ukrainian libraries with one of the largest collections of books. It is also the centre of information, bibliography, research, various educational as well as cultural activities.

It is a state bank for a unique collection of some rarest of rare manuscripts as well as printed souvenirs of Ukrainian book culture ranging from ХІ to ХХ centuries, various works of Ukrainian as well as world art (during the XV-ХХ centuries) and various other documents.

Since the year 1989 Lviv V. Stefanyk National Academic Library has been a famous institution for research in the discipline of bibliology, studies of the press, library studies and bibliography. The library also is the center for extensive studies of various Ukrainian books and periodicals of ХVІІІ to early ХХ centuries. It also publishes multiple-volume learned reference books, innumerable bibliographic indices, various scholarly works as well as popular-science literature, which inspect documents relating to bibliography of Ukrainian books and periodicals and other works.

The stock of the library involves over 7.5 million units of issue. It includes among the best in the world collection of Ukrainian studies, particularly, editions of XVIII – early ХХ centuries, various Ukrainian as well as foreign periodicals of ХІХ – the 1st part of ХХ centuries (more than 3 million units of issue); some unique compilations of incunabula as well as paleotypes of ХV – XIX centuries (250,000 units of issue), different cartographic editions of ХVІ – ХVІІІ centuries (over 15,000 units of issue).

The ruling Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine №1709 of 19th December 2001 presented the Lviv V. Stefanyk National Academic Library the status of National Asset. The entire volume of works that enjoys outstanding significance for the study of Ukrainian science and culture and which cannot be renewed or replaced in the event of loss or damage, sum up to 3735 thousand units of issue.

Lviv V. Stefanyk National Academic Library takes delivery of more than 50, 000 units of issue every years. The main source of book acquisitions that the library enjoys are a mandatory all-Ukrainian free copy that is provided by the publishing houses – it involves different kinds of printed matters - works of art, periodicals, printed music, books, thesis summaries, and cartographic editions, etc., as well as various gifts it receives from the publishing houses, institutions, charitable foundations and organizations, not to mention the individuals.