Library of the Imperial Moscow University

The Library of the Imperial Moscow University on Mokhovaya Street is a neoclassical building housing grand reading halls and extensive book collections spread across multiple floors. Inside, visitors find specialized computer stations for research alongside preserved storage facilities for academic materials.

The library began operations in March 1901 as a single room in the Brown Building before eventually expanding into its current structure. The site incorporates architectural elements from an 1812 reconstruction by architect Domenico Giliardi following damage during Napoleon's invasion of Moscow.

The building houses collections of scientific manuscripts, literary works, and academic texts that document Russian intellectual accomplishments. These holdings reflect the knowledge and research gathered over generations by Russian scholars and writers.

Students and researchers can access digital archives, historical documents, and modern academic resources through specialized computer stations in the reading rooms. Access to the collections is available, and visitors should expect typical hours of operation for an academic institution.

Many visitors overlook that the building contains structural components from the 19th century that form part of Moscow's architectural tradition following major historical disruptions. These layers of the past are visible to those who notice the details of the facade and interior spaces.

Location: Arbat District

Inception: 1901

Part of: Buildings of Moscow State University (Mokhovaya Street)

GPS coordinates: 55.75332,37.61093

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:04