The Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania invites you to a lecture „Yiddish Science Across the World: YIVO’s foreign branches, 1925-1994” by Dr. William Pimlott. This event is dedicated in celebration of the 100th anniversary of YIVO – the Yidisher Visnshaftlekher Institut – which was founded in Vilnius in 1925.

Wednesday evening, 21 May at 6 pm, our library invites you to a lecture by Michael Strmiska on “Judaism and Paganism: Not Quite Polar Opposites“ The lecture will take place at the Vilnius Jewish Public Library (Gedimino 24). Entrance is in the courtyard of Vilnius Small State Theatre.

We invite artists, researchers and exhibition curators to submit proposals to be realised in the exhibition spaces of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania in 2026.

Dear visitors, 

please be reminded that the National Library is closed during public holidays and the Library’s opening hours are one hour shorter on a day before a public holiday.

Wednesday evening, 30 April at 6 PM, the Vilnius Jewish Public Library invites you to a special literary evening: “Word-Beggar in a Jewish Graveyard: A Dispatch from a Jewish Life in Poetry.” The event will take place at the Vilnius Jewish Public Library (Gedimino pr. 24). Entrance is through the courtyard of the Vilnius Small State Theatre.

Tuesday evening, 29 April at 6 PM, the Vilnius Jewish Public Library invites you to a special literary evening: “Poetry from Vilna and Beyond on YIVO’s 100th Anniversary: A Reading and Discussion of Twentieth Century Yiddish Poetry.” The event will take place at the Vilnius Jewish Public Library (Gedimino pr. 24). Entrance is through the courtyard of the Vilnius State Small Theatre.

Dear visitors, 

please be reminded that the National Library is closed during public holidays and the Library’s opening hours are one hour shorter on a day before a public holiday.

From 10 to 12 April, the heads of five national libraries of Ukraine will be staying at the Martynas Mažvydas National Library in Lithuania. The programme of the internship includes presentations on the activities and experiences of the National Library of Lithuania in the implementation of national projects, development of buildings, information technology (IT) and service infrastructure.

Vilius Jasinevičius was born on 26 February 1933 in Javolinė, Rokiškis district. In 1952–1955 he studied electrical engineering at Kaunas Polytechnic Institute. From 1970 to 1978, he worked as a professional photographer at the Museum of Folklore and the Institute of Monument Conservation. For thirteen years (1964–1977), he led the Kaunas Photo Club on a public basis, without receiving a salary. He published nine illustrated exhibition catalogues on behalf of the Kaunas Photo Club.

This year marks the centenary of the Jewish Scientific Institute (YIVO), founded in Vilnius in 1925. This cultural and academic institution was the most important center for research of the Yiddish language and the history of Eastern European Jews. Its activities are significant for Jewish communities worldwide. The 100th anniversary of the Institute is included in the resolution of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania “On the Anniversaries of Events and Personalities Important to Lithuania Commemorated in 2025”.

On Thursday, 10 April, at 6 p.m., in the 5^th floor atrium of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, the exhibition of analog photography by Levas Žiriakovas “Creators” opens. The exhibition features portraits of Lithuanian and foreign artists captured in 1993–2023.

Please join us for a briefing with Zsuzsanna Kovacs from New York University (NYU) Abu Dhabi on the 7th of April at 6 pm in American Space at the National Library of Lithuania!

Are your English skills „rusty“? Would you like to improve it? Come to the English Discussion Club, which takes place twice a month in the American Space (2nd floor, room 205).

The Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania invites you to a book talk featuring Joshua Livestro, Dutch columnist and political writer, and Marius Vaščega, Head of the European Commission’s Representation in Lithuania. Andžej Pukšto, Associate Professor at Vytautas Magnus University, will moderate the discussion.

Exactly four centuries have passed since the first publication of Sarbiewski’s poetry collection “Three Books of Lyrics” in Cologne, Germany, in 1625, which made him famous in Europe. Researchers of ancient literature claim that the topics the poet wrote about are still relevant today. After the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania declared 2025 the Year of Maciej Kazimierz Sarbiewski and Baroque Literature, the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania prepared a series of events for visitors: five single-exhibit exhibitions and two events.

Dear visitors,

please be reminded that the National Library is closed during public holidays so it will not be open to the public on the 11th of March. 

The Library’s opening hours are one hour shorter on a day before a public holiday thus our Library will be open until 8:00 pm on the 10th of March.

On March 11, 1990, when the Supreme Council of Lithuania adopted the Act on the Restoration of an Independent State, the Soviet Union employed various tactics of intimidation, isolation, political and economic pressure, and engaged in subversive activities.

Dear visitors, 

please be reminded that the National Library is closed during public holidays and the Library’s opening hours are one hour shorter on a day before a public holiday.

On 27 January, we commemorate the International Holocaust Remembrance Day and invite you to the opening of the personal exhibition of the artist Jonas Kulikauskas “I Often Forget” at 12:00 in the Exhibition Hall of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania (3^rd floor). The exhibition is organised by the “Vilnius – Lithuanian Jerusalem” Jewish Community. The violinist Algimantas Peseckas will perform at the opening.

The Vilnius Short Film Festival not only invites people to celebrate cinema but also presents open events for the members of the audiovisual industry.