“Libraries and Information Resources in the Modern World of Science, Culture, Education and Business” International Conference in Crimea

Peter the Great in the new collection of the Presidential Library is presented as the first all-Russia Emperor, whose popularity among the people was not exceeded by any previous or subsequent ruler of the great power of the Romanov dynasty.

Rare books and documents are displayed on the website and in the electronic reading room of the first national digital library in the country during the celebration of birth of the founder of St. Petersburg (Peter the Great was born June 9 (May 30, Old Style), 1672), and in connection with the 310th anniversary of the city.

A collection of a large array of digital documents about the richest personality of the first Russian emperor is available on the website of the Presidential Library. The books tell that in addition to meeting with top officials of foreign states, Peter devoted much time to the study of shipbuilding, military science, and other sciences. He worked as a carpenter in the shipyards of the East India Company, contributed to the construction of the ship "Peter and Paul." In England, he visited foundry, arsenal, Parliament, University of Oxford, Greenwich Observatory and the Mint, whose caretaker at the time was Isaac Newton. He was interested primarily in technical achievements of the West, and then, after the visit to Westminster Hall, Peter started seriously thinking about how to introduce new codes of law in Russia, which would bring it the development and prosperity.

Upon returning home, the emperor launched major reforms of the Russian state and the social order. In significance the navy, army and foreign policy were followed by the construction of St. Petersburg.

The book by Vladimir Soloviev, "Peter the Great", available in the Presidential Library, which was published in St. Petersburg in 1898, says: "When the agile mind of Peter stopped on an idea, he tried hard, as soon as possible to realize it. Lively, vigorous nature of the tsar  

could not stand a slow motion; when he devoted himself entirely to something, he relentlessly demanded the same from everyone, from a simple employee to the most important people in the state. No wonder, then, that only a few months after the founding of St. Petersburg, the islands closest to the fortress and the opposite left bank of the Neva were cleared of forest and built up with incredible speed. The emperor himself drew a map of the city and indicated who should build, where and how."

Peter established the Holy Governing Synod as a state structure of church administration. "Spiritual Rules" written by faithful companion of Peter, Theophanes Prokopovich, which also make part of the electronic holdings of the Presidential Library, abolished the patriarchate introduced in Russia in 1589, and established Theological Board. It was also called the Synod, and was the supreme governing body of the Church, led by the chief prosecutor, directly subordinate to the emperor. It was a kind of "church ministry", similarly to "state boards" created by Peter three years earlier that managed the foreign, military, trade, and other matters.

The first Russian emperor was a great reformer, military leader, a builder of ships and cities – at the same time he had a very peculiar, contradictory and strong nature. It is embodied in numerous books, movies, documents, and also in people's memory, memories of Russians of different ranks and classes.