In 2008, the National Library of the Udmurt Republic is celebrating its 90 years anniversary. It opened on May 15, 1918, as the Central Library of Izhevsk and Izhevsk region. The National Library is the largest library of the Udmurt Republic, daily visited by about 1,000 patrons and boasting the collection of 1,500,000 volumes. It is the largest depositary of books in Udmurt (about 300,000 documents), and its electronic databases include more than 750,000 bibliographical references. In 1999, the staff of the National Library received the State Award of the Udmurt Republic in literature and arts for developing comprehensive research-based bibliographical directories on local history, economy, arts and culture.

In November 2004, the National Library launched its own Internet Center. In 2005, the Center held ninety-eight seminars and training workshops attended by more than 700 people. In 2006, it offered 100 educational events including thirteen courses (sixty-four training sessions) and thirty-six seminars. In 2005-2006, it implemented five projects under the grants of RAC, LINX and Open World Alumni Outreach Program, sponsored by Project Harmony, Inc. In April 2006, the Internet Center of the National Library became part of the IDEA Project network, an educational initiative of Microsoft Unlimited Potential Program.

In April 2007, sponsored by the Spring Land Charity Fund, the Agricultural Center of the National Library of the Udmurt Republic opened the second IDEA Project site, making the IDEA Center in Izhevsk the first to branch out and pilot a second IDEA site in the city.

In September 2007, the IDEA Center in Izhevsk held a three-day seminar for trainers of volunteer IDEA centers under the program “Launching Volunteer IDEA Centers in Public Libraries of the Udmurt Republic,” as the first stage of the program for developing qualified trainers.