The library was founded in 1931. During World War II it was completely destroyed and plundered. It was created anew during the post-war period. Nowadays it is one of the largest medical libraries in the Republic of Belarus. Its stock contains over 600 000 items.
Library provision includes:
- textbooks,
- journals and research collections,
- reference books,
- periodicals,
- etc.
The works of the BSMU scientists, theses and their abstracts as well as teaching resource materials form part of the library stock, it increasing by more than 15 000 publications annually. Computer facilities of the library have constantly been developing and a growing range of electronic materials is now available.
There are 5 reading-rooms providing 280 places for readers.
They include:
- a reading-room with (of) textbooks,
- a reading-room with research and specialist literature and periodicals,
- a reading-room with foreign literature and informational resources,
- catalogues (index, systemic and subject ones),
- inquiry-bibliographic hall.
There is computerized catalogue. Its volume is 60 000 copies. This structure is compatible with the database structure used in medical libraries all over the world.
There are 35 PCs connected to the Internet for the users of the library. Our library is a member of a consortium providing free access to the world’s information data bases.
The library publishes biographical bibliographies devoted to prominent scientists in the field of medicine, University researchers.
Data bases «Russian medicine». «Medline» and others are used to meet the readers’ interests.