The National Academic Library is a striking modern building near the centre of the left bank, with a façade of stacked horizontal layers reminiscent of a giant white book. Inside, the reading rooms are open to the public on presentation of ID, and there are usually small temporary exhibitions in the lobby — historical photographs, manuscripts, rare books from the Soviet era and earlier.
The architecture is the main draw for non-academic visitors. The atrium is tall and sunlit and the staircase ascends through the floors with views across the city. Combine with a visit to the nearby Bayterek; the library is a five-minute walk away.