About Museum

The Museum of Rare Books was established in accordance with the Charter of the Republican State Enterprise “Gylym Ordasy” under the right of economic management and Order No. 35-PR of the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 1st June of 2010. The primary purpose of the Museum is to preserve, study, and present to the public the artefacts and collections held in its holdings, as well as to promote scientific, historical, and cultural heritage and to carry out research, educational, and cultural-enlightenment activities.

The Museum’s principal mission is to demonstrate, through unique editions, the evolution of the book from its earliest manuscript forms to contemporary printed models, and to cultivate a sense of love and respect for the book – the most precious monument of the spiritual culture of all eras and peoples. In addition, the Museum occupies an important place in the cultural life of the city as a center for promoting the history and culture of the national book among bibliophiles.

The permanent exhibition of the Museum consists of four main sections:

- Ancient Written Heritage of the Kazakh Steppe;

- Manuscript – the Legacy of the Centuries;

- Early National Publications;

- Kazakh Publications in the Latin Script.

The section Ancient Written Heritage of the Kazakh Steppe presents the history of the formation of ancient writing culture, beginning with the Turkic peoples.

The section Manuscript – the Legacy of the Centuries features medieval manuscripts by Central Asian scholars who left an indelible mark on human civilization, including religious, historical, and literary works. Among the exhibits are a manuscript of Hafez Shirazi’s Divan; the epics Ibrahim Adham and Er Hubbi; a manuscript collection containing the hikmets of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi and Shah Mashrab; a manuscript of the treatise Mukhtasar al-Wiqaya; the work Kanz al-Sharif; lithographic books titled Risala Kabriya, Utir-nama, and Misbah al-Anwar; as well as the renowned Khamsa by Alisher Navoi.

The exhibition Early National Publications presents first editions of works by eminent scholars and educators who made a significant contribution to the development of science and culture in Kazakhstan, along with various textbooks, literary works, and lyrical and heroic epics.

The section Kazakh Publications in the Latin Script displays socially and historically significant editions published in the 1920s-1940s using the Latin alphabet.

Since 2024, the Museum has become part of the Department of Rare Books, Manuscripts and National Literature of the Central Scientific Library and currently functions as the Library-Museum Department of Rare Books, Manuscripts and National Literature, with a museum collection comprising more than 1,600 storage units.

Exhibitions

The exposition of the Museum of Rare Books is based on a collection of monuments of the written culture of Kazakhstan and consistently presents the history of the development of writing and book publishing in the territory of the Great Steppe — from the earliest symbolic systems to printed editions of the 20th century.

The First Hall — “Ancient Written Heritage of the Kazakh Steppe” — is devoted to the origins of written culture. It features information about the earliest written monuments discovered in Kazakhstan, ranging from stone inscriptions and epigraphic writings to later ancient samples. The exposition highlights the formation and development of the written tradition that laid the foundation of the national spiritual culture.

The Second Hall — “Manuscript — Heritage of the Centuries” — introduces visitors to manuscript monuments reflecting the historical, cultural, and socio-political life of the country. Throughout history, manuscripts have served as custodians of the collective memory of the people. The hall presents historical and literary works, genealogical records, as well as folklore and ethnographic materials of significant scientific and cultural value.

The Third Hall — “Early National Editions” — is dedicated to the formation of Kazakh printing. It exhibits the first national books and publications printed in Arabic script, containing valuable information about the spiritual, political, and cultural life of society. These works mark the transition from manuscript tradition to printed culture.

The Fourth Hall — “Kazakhstani Printed Editions in Latin Script” — reflects an important stage in publishing history during the 1920s–1940s. The exposition includes socially significant publications in the Kazakh language printed in Latin script. These books were published in Almaty, Kyzylorda, Uralsk, Kostanay, and Semipalatinsk.

The development of publishing in the 19th century in Kazan, Ufa, Orenburg, Omsk, and Tashkent, and in the early 20th century in Verny, Kereku, and Semey, created favorable conditions for collecting and publishing works of oral folk literature, as well as writings of akyns and thinkers. This process contributed to the preservation and dissemination of the national spiritual heritage.

The museum exposition clearly demonstrates the historical path of the book — from ancient stone inscriptions to printed editions of the 20th century — emphasizing the continuity of the written tradition and its importance in shaping national culture.

№	Іс-шараның атауы	Өтетін түрі	Өтетін уақыты
1	Бөкейханов Әлихан Нұрмұхамедұлы (1870-1937) - көрнекті қоғам және мемлекет қайраткері, ғұлама ғалым,    ұлт азаттық қозғалысының теориялық негізін салушы әрі көсемі, қазақтың тұңғыш саяси партиясын ұйымдастырушы және Алашорда үкіметінің төрағасы.	Көрме (160 жыл)	I квартал
	«Алғашқы Бүкілодақтық түркология съезі: тарихы мен маңызы»  Баку съезі (1926)	Көрме (100 жыл)	II квартал
2	Қазақ КСР Ғылым Академиясының құрылған күні – 1946 жылғы 1 маусым.	Көрме  (80 жыл)	III квартал
3	Ыбырай Алтынсарин (1841–1889 жж) - қазақтың аса көрнекті ағартушы-педагогы, жазушы, этнограф, фольклоршы, қоғам қайраткері.	Көрме (185 жыл)	IV квартал

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