We often hear and celebrate the people from all around the world doing the good deeds – philanthropists, patrons, volunteers, stars donating large sums of money or celebrities establishing foundations. We do not have to look far to find examples of good and courageous deeds; our history is full of people who were righteous, but who were forced to act quietly because they were risking not only their own lives but those of their families. These are the Righteous Among the Nations of Lithuania. Their behaviour proved that the only important thing is morals, and that morals have to be stronger than fear. 

The term of office of Professor Dr. Renaldas Gudauskas, the Director General of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, officially concludes on January 15, 2024. By court decision, the appointment of a new leader to assume the position is currently on hold. Therefore, as of January 16, by the decision of the Ministry of Culture, Aidas Sinkevičius, the Deputy Director General for Infrastructure, will temporarily oversee the National Library.

Over the last 200 years, Vilnius has undergone major changes in its political status as well as social and demographic transformations: from a provincial city of the Russian Empire, to an administrative center under German occupation and provincial center of Poland, to the capital of independent and Soviet-occupied Lithuania and finally, to the capital of a EU member state. During this period, the composition of the Vilnius’ population and its identities have experienced many changes, as did the social and cultural picture of the city.

Thursday, 18 January, 6 pm Vilnius Jewish Public Library of Lithuanian National Martynas Mažvydas Library invites you to a virtual Zoom lecture by Dr. Stephen Daniel Arnoff based on his book "About Man and God and Law: The Spiritual Wisdom of Bob Dylan".

I do not believe that the upcoming year will be easier, that we will be exempt from difficult challenges and uncomfortable decisions. However, I do believe that we will enter the New Year more experienced and kinder. So let it be a time for creativity, empathy and courage.

Dear visitors, the National Library is closed on public holidays. On the last working day before the public holiday, namely on the 23^rd and 31^st of December, the library will close one hour earlier. 

What is the difference between celebrating Christmas in America and in Lithuania?

On 27 November the Director General of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, Prof. Dr. Renaldas Gudauskas, and Dr. Jonathan Brent, Executive Director of the Archives of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research in New York, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Antanas Ulpis Humanitarian Award for Contributions to the Development of Relations and Understanding between Lithuania and the Jews.

The “Lithuanian Armed Forces in Photography” contest was established in memory of combat photographer Tadas Dambrauskas. This year marks the 19th iteration, with the original goal of showing the Lithuanian Armed Forces more closely and in different situations – what troops are like during exercises and fests, their experience, training routine, achieving their goals, and the true face of military service.

For the second year running, this autumn saw a visit by the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania to the Central Library of the City of Peterborough, United Kingdom, where on November 14th there was an event dedicated to Lithuanian culture. The visit was arranged by the Lithuanian Publishers’ Association, the Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, and the World Lithuanian Community.

Seminars organised by the Lithuanian Music Business Association for music and related industries (professionals and newcomers) to improve their skills, promote entrepreneurship and networking.

The idea for Telling the City came from Vilnius celebrating its 700^th anniversary this year. It got us thinking about how the city is reflected in children’s literature. A retrospective look revealed that it is not a common subject in Lithuanian children’s literature, even less so in illustration. Historically, nature was considered a safer environment for children to grow up in. It was seen as more welcoming, able to provide shelter, peace and knowledge. Cities, in contrast, were mostly portrayed as hectic, even dangerous places. So with this exhibition we wanted to bring the city to the fore and highlight its importance in children’s book illustration. We were also keen to look at urban spaces from various angles. What does the city represent to artists from different countries? How does a communal city becomes one’s own? What makes it a beautiful and safe space for a child to live in?

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 1st and 2nd of November, i. e. on the All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.

Monday 30 October, 6 pm Vilnius Jewish Public Library of  Lithuanian National Martynas Mažvydas Library invites you to a lecture by Prof. Shulamit Ramon “Social Work in War Torn Contexts and Resilience".

The Kražiai Organist’s Notebook (1618), preserved in the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, has been recognised as a documentary heritage object of national importance.

On October 19-20, the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania hosted an international conference dedicated to the 700th anniversary of Vilnius, “Europe. Capital. Transformations: Vilnius in the 19th and 21st Centuries.” The event was part of the “Vilnius 700th Anniversary Events at the National Library” funded by the Lithuanian Council for Culture.

On October 5–6, the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuanian hosted an international conference “Printing Centers and Peripheries in the Early Modern Period“, dedicated to the 700th anniversary of Vilnius. The conference brought together researchers to present papers and share insights on the culture, history, and application of digital humanities to the old book, to analyze the circumstances of the formation of printing centers and peripheries and the relationship between them across continents and cultures, and to explore the roles of authors, publishers, distributors, readers, and preservers in the creation and distribution of the printed book.

On October 19-20, 2023 The Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania kindly invites you to the international conference “ Europe. Capital. Transformations: Vilnius in the 19th and 21st Centuries“ which will be held at the National Library of Lithuania in Vilnius.

On 2023 October 12-13 The Max Weber Foundation and the Branch office Vilnius of the German Historical Institute Warsaw, in cooperation with the Lithuanian Institute of History, invites you to the international scientific conference “The Politics and Poetics of Evidence. The Soviet Documentation of Nazi Crimes, the Myth of the Great Patriotic War, and their Legacies“. The conference will take place at the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania.

This year marks the 80th year of the liquidation of the Vilna ghetto, which once again reminds us of the painful stages of history from which we must learn and which we must not forget.