The Archival Library (AL) was founded on
April 14, 1909 as an archival collection of the publications
in Estonian from the 10,000-volume library of the Estonian Students'
Society, which had been founded at the beginning of 1880. The
initiator of both libraries was Oskar Kallas.
The AL collects all books, periodicals, pamphlets, maps and bookplates
in the Estonian language, as well as other publications concerning
Estonia in other languages. The AL supplements its collections
through compulsory copies, purchase, ordering, donations and
exchange.
The total amount of the collection is more
than 730,000 registration units.
The AL comprises
the following collections:
 A collection of books in the Estonian language
which comprises an archival collection and a collection for
use by readers. This includes more than 90 per cent of all books
published up to 1917 and also nearly all books and booklets published
since 1918. The oldest known complete book in Estonian - the
first part of Heinrich Stahl's "Hand- und Hausbuch..."
published in 1632, is the pride of the collection, as well as
some of the oldest Estonian grammar books, primers, and calendars.
The collection holds all first publications by Estonian authors
and most later publications. A relatively complete set of publications
in exile has been added during recent years.
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The Baltic collection gathers books in other languages concerning either
Estonia, the Baltic countries in general or Finno-Ugric peoples;
also translations of Estonian authors into other languages. The
older part of the collection includes old Estonian and Livonian
chronicles (those of Balthasar Russow, 1578, 1584 and Christian
Kelch, 1695), travelogues and scientific investigations. |
The periodical collection has two parts - periodicals in Estonian (comprising
more than 90 per cent of all periodicals published in Estonian),
and periodicals in other languages published in Estonia as well
as in Finland, Riga and St. Petersburg. |
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The map collection
contains maps of historical value and town plans. The main objects
of collection have been maps of Europe and the Baltic countries.
The most unique map is that of Livonia drawn by Portantius in
1573. |
The pamphlet collection contains pamphlets,
leaflets and advertisements in both Estonian and other languages
published in Estonia.
The memorial collections are personal collections
preserved intact, according to the wishes of their donators.
The AL has been participating in compiling
the Estonian National Bibliography and has organised several
conferences and exhibitions.
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