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April 23 is World Book and Copyright Day. This date was announced at the 28th session of UNESCO in 1995. Book exhibitions and fairs are held in many countries on Book Day. "There are two things that form a person – what you read and who you communicate with," said the First President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, addressing the new generation of Kazakhstanis. The head of state always stresses the importance of reading books, both for children and for adults. The personal library of Nursultan Nazarbayev is constantly updated with publications of classical literature and works of modern writers and poets.
Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev started creating his personal library in the 60s. In 2007, about one thousand of his books were donated to the museum of the First President of Kazakhstan. This is the beginning of the history of the Library of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Elbassy, the Library collection of which today is more than 33 thousand copies. This figure is constantly growing: the publications come to the library with a handwritten note of Elbassy – "To the library".
The book collection is of great scientific and historical value. The vast collection of literature includes books by the world and domestic classics, world-famous writers, scientists, politicians, representatives of culture and art with personal autographs from cosmonaut Alexey Leonov, writers, poets and artists – Chingiz Aitmatov, Rasul Gamzatov, Iosif Kobzon, Galina Vishnevskaya.
In addition, there are old printed editions of the XVII century, the manuscript of 1667 "Shariah rules". Rare, collectible editions of the XIX-XX centuries. Of particular value is the collection of editions of the Koran – more than 70 holy books, mostly in Arabic. Among them is a handwritten Koran from 1667, as well as a Koran that visited space, handed over by astronaut Talgat Musabayev. The Library also contains an album with sketches by Leonardo da Vinci, presented to Nursultan Nazarbayev by the Biblioteca Ambrosiana of Milan. Rare literature requires specialized storage. That is why old books are in a separate room, where cool temperature and dim light are constantly maintained.
Books with gift inscriptions of foreign presidents, prime ministers testify to the high international authority of Elbassy as one of the strongest politicians of modern times. Here are books with commemorative inscriptions from Margaret Thatcher, Lee Kuan Yew, Xi Jinping, Boris Yeltsin, Bill Clinton, Henry Kissinger and other prominent personalities.
In an interview, Elbassy noted that he mainly reads specific literature that is necessary for work: "I love to read and find time for it. One day, on Sunday, I definitely try not to work and read in the evenings," Nursultan Nazarbayev told reporters.
Studying the library, you will notice that many books have bookmarks and notes made by Elbassy himself. A deep and attentive reading of books is one of the strong qualities of the First President, who always makes notes, leaving question marks near important episodes of reading. Pencil notes of Elbassy can be found on the pages of such books as "Peter Stolypin: The Tragedy of Russia" by Vyacheslav Khotulev, memoirs of Grand Duke Gavriil Konstantinovich in the book "In the Marble Palace. Memoirs", in the memoirs of the daughter of Boris Pasternak Zoe Maslenikova, philosophical publications "Axioms of wit" by moral thinkers Francois Larochefoucault and Nicola de Chamfort, the collection "Prudence of Wisdom" by Solomon the Wise and Epictetus, also in the writings of the Roman philosopher, the politics of Lucius Annaeus Seneca.
A special place is given to the works of Kazakh authors - the works by Abdijamil Nurpeisov, Abish Kekilbaev, Azilkhan Nurshaikov, Syrbai Maulenov, Olzhas Suleimenov, Fariza Ongarsynova, collected works by Sherhan Murtaza, Kadyr Myrza Ali. The works of modern Kazakh authors are always of great interest to Elbassy. Among the books read are "Bіz, qazaq, ejelden erkіńdіk ańsaǵan" by Abdesh Kalmyrzaev, "Qazaq ádebıetіnіń altyn ǵasyry" by Rymgali Nurgali, Khasen Adybayev’s historical novel "Otyrar oırany", a collection of poems "Kóne dápterlerden" by Tumanbai Moldagaliev, historical novel by Ermek Tursunov "Mamluks", "Redemption of dabir" by Moris Simashko.