The library’s depository had 10 million items, including some rare publications dating back to the 16th century alongside collections of documents of the United Nations, the League of Nations, US Congress reports beginning with 1789 and the British parliament from 1803. It also housed more than 450,000 monographs.
The press service said that 985,000 books in a satisfactory condition would be moved to special depositories for drying. Some 3 million books would be frozen before restoration, which could take decades.
The library was founded in 1918.
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