Preservation of cultural heritage is the main function of libraries. Rare and valuable books that make up the pride of the library collection of KazNUA date back to 2018 and are an object of cultural heritage. Rare book collections stored in the library's collections were previously donated from the library collections of the Akmola Music College, as well as donated by university teachers, individuals, and various foundations.

Today, the unique fund of rare and valuable publications of the KazNUA library includes publications of the 19th – early 20th centuries and has 873 titles. Among them are publications in Kazakh, Russian and foreign languages, original documents of sheet editions, painting albums, books on graphics, cinema, theater, fine arts, architecture, sculpture, decorative and applied arts and unique music editions of different eras, works on theory music, classical music. These are not just musical notations, these are music books of a mixed type, in which the musical text is the main one.

The 19th and early 20th centuries were marked by a real “boom” in the publishing of musical works: music was not just part of a good upbringing and education, the era literally breathed with it. A number of publishing houses emerged, reflecting in historical sequence the history of the development of musical culture.

The KazNUA library contains valuable copies of sheet music from the leading music publishing houses of that time - P. Yurgenson, M. Belyaev, Breitkopf & Härtel, G. Ricordi & C., A. Gutheil, V. Bessel and K. Sileverstov and books from the publishing houses Goskinoizdat, Art, MuzGis, Music sector, etc.

The pride of the department are valuable books, consisting of small-circulation books that are interesting in content and design. The collections of books from one of the world's largest German music publishing houses, Breitkopf & Härtel, are interesting.

Rossini, G. Der Barbier von Sevilla [Sheet music]: Oper in zwei Akten. Klavir (1816); Lehár, Franz Zigeunerliebe [Sheet music]: Romantische operette in 3 Bildern (1909); Bach Johann Sebastian Werke: Prtitur (1900)

Books from Casa Ricordi are a publisher primarily of classical music and opera: Wagner, R. La walkiria [Sheet music]: Opera Completa (1870); Verdi, G. Ein Maskenball [Sheet music]: Oper in drei Akten (1859)

There are also large-format editions, pocket scores and books in luxurious fabric binding.

Also presented are books from one of the most famous and representative music publishing houses, the music publishing company “A. Gutheil”, which played an important role in the artistic life of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This is evidenced by the title given to the publisher as “Supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty”, which has the status of a Russian state brand. This title gave the right to use the coat of arms on their publications and carry out orders from the Court.

Books published by P. Jurgenson's company are of great interest. The music publishing house of P. I. Yurgenson responded sensitively to the demands of the music publishing market, to the development of musical culture in the country, and to the activities of other music publishers.

Meyerbeer, J. "The African" opera in 5 acts (1888); Marx Adolf Bernhard. A universal textbook of music, a guide for teachers and students in all areas of music education. translation from the 9th German edition edited by A. S. Famintsyn (1881); Musical form: Composition by Ebenezer Prout / Translated from English. Count S.L. Tolstoy (1917).

41 documents related to Kazakh musical art have been preserved. Among the publications there is an ethnographic collection “The musical creativity of Abai Kunanbaev”, published in 1954 by the publishing house of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR in Almaty. The musical edition was published according to a special resolution of B. G. Erzakovich and the Editorial and Publishing Council of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR. This collection presents 12 Abai songs for the first time. However, this collection is not a complete collection of the poet's musical work. In 1919, recording of Abai's musical works began. Since he recorded the poet's songs and released them into the world, he began to study his composer's heritage.

The fund also contains books: Zataevich A.V. Piano arnalgan piece. Pieces for piano on Kazakh folk themes (1957); “Songs of Kenen Azerbaev” (1955); Ivanov-Sokolsky M. Trio for violin, cello and piano: Dedicated to the memory of the daughter of the Kazakh people Manshuk Mametova. With the party (1956), M. Tulebaev “Birzhan and Sara” (1959); Essays on the history of Kazakh music (1962); Birzhan sal. Anderi (1959); Kurmangazy Kuyler (1961); “Kazakh Soviet folk songs” (1959), “Folk music of Kazakhstan” (1967), Zataevich A.V. Research. Memories. Letters (1958); Gorchakov N. The director's work on the play (1956); Lvov N. Kazakh Academic Drama Theater (1957), etc.

The rare collection of the library is an inexhaustible source of materials for scientific, methodological and research work. The Rare Book Hall regularly hosts exhibitions of books and magazines, practical classes for students and excursions for everyone. We also devote special efforts to the digitization of rare and valuable books; this activity requires a lot of time and patience, but the next generations of our library users will certainly appreciate our work.