Naval Library (Kronstadt)

The Kronstadt Naval Library, founded by Admiral P. M. Rozhnov with the permission of Nicholas I in 1832, is one of the oldest public libraries in Russia. The foundation of its collection was the book collection of Fabian Bellingshausen, the discoverer of Antarctica, who was also one of the first chairmen of the library committee. The building, designed by architect Georgy Kosyakov (who also decorated the Naval St. Nicholas Cathedral built by his brother Vasily), was recognized as a cultural heritage site by the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 527 of July 10, 2001. Construction, which began in 1910, was not completed before the First World War, and the library did not operate until 1926, when it was visited by the People's Commissar of Education A. V. Lunacharsky.