The Russian State Library, the largest in Russia and the second largest in the world, was founded in 1862 and originally was part of the Moscow Public and Rumyantsev Museums. Since its inception, it has received mandatory copies of all publications released in the country. On January 24, 1924, the library was named after V. I. Lenin, and on February 6, 1925, it became the State Library of the USSR named after V. I. Lenin. Since January 22, 1992, it has been known as the Russian State Library.

Currently, its collections hold over 47 million books, documents, and artifacts. Each year, more than 800,000 people visit the library, and about 100,000 new library cards are issued. The library has 36 reading rooms, which can accommodate more than one and a half thousand people at the same time. Any citizen of Russia or another country who is at least 14 years old can become a reader.

At the end of 2014, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation appointed the Russian State Library as the operator of the National Electronic Library. This modern project provides free access to the collections of key Russian libraries through a single portal and search engine.

Since January 2017, the library has begun receiving mandatory copies of printed publications and dissertations in electronic form.

The library is actively developing and seeking new forms of interaction with readers. The best and most interesting materials from its collections are showcased at exhibitions. In 2016, a new museum space for large exhibitions, the Ivanovo Hall, opened at the RSL. Each exhibition is accompanied by lectures and tours. Visitors can also explore the book storage, the Pashkov House, the Museum of the Book, and walk through the main building. At events such as Biblionight, Biblioday, and Open House Day, both specialists and anyone interested can learn about the library's work.