MINSK, 29 March (BelTA) – Belarus' National Library hopes to showcase a fragment of Johannes Gutenberg's Bible, the first and the most widely known printed book in the world dating back to the middle of the 15th century, Deputy Director of Belarus' National Library Alexander Susha told reporters on 29 March, BelTA has learned.
There is a chance that the book fragment will be displayed at an international exhibition that will celebrate Francysk Skaryna and his time. The exhibition will open at the National Library on 14 September and will mark the 500th anniversary of the Belarusian book printing. “This exhibition will be our first attempt to present all aspects of the history of the Belarusian book printing in a comprehensive way against a broad historical and cultural backdrop. There is a good reason to hope that a fragment of Johannes Gutenberg's Bible will be showcased at the National Library,” Alexander Susha noted. He pointed out that the library has a number of agreements to present first printed books from different countries in Minsk.
For the first time, the National Library will put on display Francysk Skaryna's books that are now part of collections around the world. The exhibition will invite its visitors to learn more about the history of the Belarusian book printing, from the first print shops to the greatest books of the 19th and 20th centuries and today. Besides, it will showcase book printing equipment, technologies and materials that were used in different times.
The 1,500 square meters of exhibition area will feature many interactive zones that will offer events for children and adults, presentations and meetings. There will be a special playing area inviting visitors to try on the role of the first book printer.
Preparations for the exhibition started some three years ago. Once it opens, the exhibition will run at least until the end of 2017. Plans have been made to arrange separate exhibitions to cover different aspects of the core theme. For instance, Belarusian perfumers together with their foreign colleagues plan to launch a series of perfumes that, they believe, convey a sense of Francysk Skaryna's times.
