Central Naval Library, founded in 1799 is oldest and largest in Armed Forces of Russia. In their collections Central Naval Library reflects the ways of formation, improving and reform of Russian Navy during tree centuries of its history. In spite of its specialization, all 200 years of the existing of the Library completed their funds very widely. Library keeps unique book collections of XVII-XIX centuries:

- Collection of books devoted to history and geography, edited at the Peter the Great lifetime, among them "The Book of Service Regulations" of 1719, rare translations of shipbuilding, navigation, naval practice and others.
- Collection of first editions of all Russian navigators of XVIII century reports from the librarian fund of Admiralty Library (1799), works of F.Bellingshausen, I.Krusenstern, Y.Lisiansky, V.Golovnin, п.Kotzebue, F.Lytke, A.Lasarev, edited in XIX century. This outstanding seafarers were also the readers of the Naval Library.
- 3629 volumes of admiral I.Krusenstern's Library (with his marginal notes), contents books on navigation, astronomy, naval practice, geography, hydrography, classical literature, geographical and sea maps, gathered by Krusenstern.
- Large quantity of rare books, among them 3 incunabula (books edited before 1501 and similar to manuscript) on astronomy of 1488 Й 1490 and more then 40 paleotypes (West-European editions of 1501-1550) not only of Russian, but of world-wide scale of rarity.
- Books of XVI-XVII centuries on biology, geography, mathematics, physics, astronomy, military strategy, fortification, history of different Navies, history of pirates, history of navigation and voyages.
- Books of classical authors, writers of Renaissance and New Time, edition on linguistics of XVI-XVII centuries; books on architecture, fine arts, among then albums of engravings and drafts of A.Durer, P.Rubens edited in XVI-XVII centuries and others.

During its history Naval Library was headed by outstanding navigators and statesmen of Russia. Followed precepts of Peter I, high officials of the Russian State paid a large attention to the work of Naval Library and helped to complete it. Now Central Naval Library is a large scientific, bibliographical and methodical center of Russia.

Central Naval Library is ready to enlarge their work and collaborate with all persons interesting in it by preliminary application and offers:

   1. Access to the funds and archives.
   2. Copies of editions and their parts.
   3. Computer catalogues and descriptions to all parts of funds.
   4. Making of printed or computer collections of documents, slides and video materials.
   5. Collaboration in re-edition of rare books.

Forms and methods of co-operation with Central Naval Library may by distinguished and will by officially registred.