This work explored the operation of public libraries in the Russian Empire at the turn of the 19th and l0th centuries. Consideration was given to the legal-and-regulatory framework for such libraries, their distribution by type, and the key characteristics of how their book stock was funded and built. The principal sources for the study were relevant collections of materials and those of published documents. The study's findings revealed that at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries public libraries served in Russia as an important tool for the self-education of both the nation's young and adults. By the end of the 19th century, a significant amount of experience had been amassed in Russia in terms of educating youth and creating the conditions for fostering citizenship in individual members of society. This education was grounded in the family as the basis on which the state is organized, benevolence, and staying true to one's obligations. By the start of the l0th century, Russian librarians managed to create the conditions for popularizing public libraries in society. This was done via visual attraction (e.g., attracting young readers via drawing and painting exhibitions) and a diverse repertory, typically dominated by works of fiction. The nation's vast network of libraries provided its population, including those living in the countryside, with an opportunity to self-educate.