page_title: Armenian Philanthropic Society of Baku
section_title: Library
hierarchical_section_title: Armenian Philanthropic Society of Baku / Library
caption_attribution_description: English: Building of the Central library at Nizami street in Baku.
context_page_description: The Armenian Philanthropic Society of Baku or the Mardasirakan was a philanthropic organization built and operated by the Armenian community of Baku. It was established in 1863–1864 and became the first philanthropic organization in the Caucasus. In 1870 the Armenian Philanthropic Society established the first library and publication house in Baku. The library was the largest in the Caucasus.
context_section_description: The Armenian Philanthropic Society had opened a library in 1870 which became the first of its kind in Baku. The library, which contained books in numerous languages, was used by all nationalities. In order to read the books, there was a monthly membership charge of 30 kopecks. The library reportedly had 9,000 books. By 1914, the number of books had risen to 21,800 with 68 periodicals. Many of the librarians would eventually become prominent Armenian intellectuals and writers. Chief among them was playwright Aleksandr Movsisian or more commonly known as Shirvanzade, who was the librarian between 1881 and 1883.
  Owing to the strict censorship of the Russian Czarist government, the activities of the library were suspended.
  After the construction of the St. Gregory the Illuminator's Church of Baku, the library eventually moved onto its premises in 1913 where it resumed operations.
  After the Armenian Philanthropic Society ceased operations, the library was shut down. It was reopened as the Lenin Public Library during the Soviet Union.
  After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the library became known as the Central City Library. In 2003 the Central City Library became the Presidential Library of Azerbaijan and continues to serve Baku residents till this day.
caption: The Armenian Philanthropic Library (now Presidential Library) as it appears today
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