Yesterday, June 10, Polytechnic University students visited the current book exhibitions at the BNTU Scientific Library. Irina Ivanova, a first-category bibliographer, led the tour, explaining each exhibition and how the library's exhibition work is organized.
For reference: the book exhibitions at the BNTU Scientific Library are not static displays, but a living, constantly updated information resource. They are located at each circulation desk and in all reading rooms—both in the main building and in the library at 16 Yakuba Kolasa Street. Each exhibition has a QR code that leads to a page on the library's website with a list of references, direct links to the online catalog, and information on the location of each book in the collection. The Department of Humanities and Educational Work organizes exhibitions and events.
One of the permanent exhibitions, "Exhibition of Scientific Works of BNTU Employees," presents publications published over the past three years. The works are organized by faculty and updated as new works are received, ensuring that students can always find literature directly related to their field.
The Year of Belarusian Women, declared in 2026, is reflected in the exhibition "Glorious Daughters of the Belarusian Land," which covers the history of outstanding Belarusian women—from Rogneda to Marina Vasilevskaya, the first cosmonaut in sovereign Belarus. The exhibition features books about scientists, saints, and artists, including those whose Belarusian origins are not widely known today. The library also features a separate exhibition, "The Patron Saint of Belarus," dedicated to the 925th anniversary of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk. The next thematic exhibition, "Female Faces of Belarusian Literature," is already in preparation.
June 22nd, the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Great Patriotic War and the Genocide of the Belarusian People, is approaching. Two exhibitions at the BNTU Scientific Library are dedicated to this tragic date. The permanent exhibition, "The Genocide of the Belarusian People during the Great Patriotic War," is updated as new publications arrive. It features documentary and fiction literature about the tragic pages of Belarusian history.
Another exhibition, "That Terrible Year 1941...," is dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the start of the Great Patriotic War. It features literature about the fiery year of 1941—from the first battles on the border and the defense of Brest to the Battle of Moscow. On display are photo albums with documents, memoirs of participants in the events, and books about the Siege of Leningrad and the defense of Odessa and Sevastopol. A special place is occupied by the multi-volume publication, "The Last Letters from the Front," specifically the first volume, entirely devoted to 1941. "These two books—'I Am from a Fiery Village' and 'The Siege Book'—were enough for me to understand what war is and to hate it with all my soul, all my body. It was then that I truly understood genocide for the first time," shared Irina Ivanova.
The periodicals reading room features an exhibition of rare periodicals from 1895–1945. These unique historical publications are a must-see for every visitor.
The exhibition dedicated to the library's information resources deserves special attention, as described by Maria Akhramenko, Head of the Humanities and Educational Work Department at the BNTU Scientific Library. An entire shelf is dedicated to materials on databases, electronic textbooks, and open internet resources, with each topic accompanied by a description and a QR code. The exhibition also features a printed version of the "InfoGenerator" digest, developed by specialists to provide information support to students and staff at the university. It contains literature reviews and useful links for science and education, serving as a reliable navigator through the digital space.
"Some people stop, some look, and some simply pass by, and that's it. But sometimes, it's truly worth paying attention to these display cases, because you can find so much that surprises you behind them," added Irina Ivanova.
The university's book collection holds many interesting things, so it's definitely not worth simply passing by the closed glass shelves. The BNTU Scientific Library's exhibitions are regularly updated, revealing new facets of history, culture, and science to students. Students are encouraged to visit the display cases frequently between classes, as this is an excellent opportunity not only to be the first to learn about new releases and discover rare editions, but also to save significant time when searching for literature for their academic or research projects.
