Lithuanian signatories of the Act of Independence – twenty Lithuanian politics and public figures, representatives of various fields, who collected personal libraries of exceptional value.
In rare books department are preserved fragments of the libraries that had belonged to the first Lithuanian president Antanas Smetona and Jurgis Šaulys who was diplomat, doctor of philosophy and representative of publishing house. These collections are exceptional in terms of variety of languages and reveals a broad spectrum of signatories’ interests.
Among the books that had belonged to A. Smetonas was found owner’s record „A. Smetano” as well as dedications to the President of the Republic of Lithuania. One of these records was written by Czechoslovakia consular in Lithuania, professor Jaroslav Galia the record is inscribed in the book “Baroque architecture of Prague“. Almost all the books that belonged to J. Šaulys , a person who wrote the Act the Independence, are marked with the owner‘s signature.
Only small library fragments which belonged to signatories (Jonas Basanavičius, Petras Klimas, Aleksandras Stulginskis, Kazimieras Bizauskas, Mykolas Biržiška and Pranas Dovydaitis) are preserved in the library.
In the exhibition are presented books written by signatories as well as publications with their dedications or dedications for them.
Exhibition will be open until 20 th of April. We kindly invite to visit this exhibition.