The library’s collection began to form with the establishment of the museum in 1985, and it now contains about 11,000 volumes in Russian, foreign languages, and in the state language.
The foundation and specificity of the collection are determined by the museum’s profile—visual arts. The library collection also includes literature on all humanities. It focuses on literature for the study of the art and life of ancient and contemporary peoples: encyclopedias, albums, exhibition catalogs, dictionaries, extensive editions of art monuments, literary works on the history of art, and works of fiction, including the “Library of World Literature.”
Books were acquired through the book collector “Knitorg,” in bookstores, at antiquarian shops, ordered, and donated. The Nevzory family not only donated paintings but also books on art, monographs, catalogs, etc. In the 1980s and 1990s, the richest personal libraries of the well-known educator V. F. Kritz and the Kevorkov family from Semipalatinsk were acquired.
These collections included works of fiction, books on the history of art, aesthetics, philosophy, and history. The fundamental editions from that time have not lost their value, as they were published in small editions and have now become bibliographic rarities. Many artists and art historians donated their books and albums to the museum in gratitude. A significant contribution to the formation of the collection was made by museum staff member K. R. Iskakova.
In the library, visitors can familiarize themselves with the museum’s publications: the guidebook-album, the 25th-anniversary album, the catalog of the Nevzory donation, the catalog “Visual Arts of Kazakhstan,” conference proceedings, and exhibition catalogs.
Throughout its existence, the library has regularly been replenished with periodicals on its profile, such as “Artist,” “Art,” “Decorative Art,” “Museum,” “World of the Museum,” “Russian Art,” “Russian Gallery,” “Mәдени мұра,” “Mәдениет,” “Visual Arts,” “Art at School,” “Art. First of September,” “Young Artist,” and others.
The broad selection of art history literature, as well as a well-organized collection of books and journals on the history and theory of art, aids the museum’s scientific research activities in the field of art studies, museum pedagogy, and other humanities.
In recent years, many books in the state language have been added. Most of the albums and catalogs, according to the “Mәдени мұра” program, are published in three languages.
The library’s reading room welcomes students, teachers, and all lovers and connoisseurs of art.