History of VSMU Library

The history of Vitebsk State Medical University Library dates back to the November of 1934, when Vitebsk distance education medical institute was reorganized into a combination of hospital and full-time attendance medical university. In the December of 1934 the very first textbooks for students were provided. Thus the basis of the library collection was formed. The institude didn’t have a special premises, the chairs were dispersed around the city. The library was located on the 1st floor of a wooden building of a former church building on Communist Street (Botanical Garden).

During the period of occupation (the Second World War) the library was completely destroyed. Its reconstruction began after the war. By the end of 1946 the library collection was 5600 items. It was greatly enlarged by virtue of different institutions and organizations (Vitebsk Regional Health Care Department, Mogilyov Medical College, the 1st Moscow Medical Institute, the 2nd Leningrad Medical Institute, State Central Scientific Medical Library (Moscow)). At that time there were 420 readers in the library. And 3 librarians on the staff.

By the end of 1950 the library collection was already 30 000 items. The amount of readers increased to 940. With 5 librarians on the staff.

In 1959 the Medical Library together with the Medical Institute were moved to the new building in Frunze Avenue (it is the main building of the university nowadays), where it occupied an area of 1100 sq.m. The reading room for students (150 seats) and the reading room for degree associates (10 seats) were opened.

In 1960 the following sections were singled out in the library: the acquisition department, the processing department, the service department, the reference and information department. During those years, library and bibliographic services were being improved. Classes on the basics of library and bibliographic knowledge began to be held for students.

In 1981 the library was moved to new areas in the constructed laboratory-theoretical building, where the reading room (70 seats) and the reading room foe degree associates (24 seats) were opened.

Delivery desks for educational literature for overseas students (General Practice Department and Pharmacy Department (in 1997), Dentistry Department (in 2001)) were organized. Also, the specialized reading room for periodicals and the reading room for degree associates (1998) were singled out.