The TSU Scientific Library was founded in 1880 and originally consisted of numerous private collections donated to the university. It was opened to the public in 1888. It is now the largest university Scientific Library in Western Siberia and one of the largest nationally recognized libraries in Russia.

Its collection contains almost 4 mln catalogued items, including more than 2 mln copies of books in different languages, 900,000 copies of magazines (3,500 Russian titles and 700 foreign). Annually, the library is visited by about 500,000 people who are loaned 1,350, 000 volumes.

The Department of Book Monuments houses the most valuable collection in the library which contains 100,000 catalogued items. There one may find old hand-written manuscripts, rare Slavic, West European and Eastern publications of the 14-20 centuries, and 16 book collections which belonged to V. A. Zhoukovsky, A.V.Nikitenko, A.G.Stroganov, and G.N.Potanin's archive comprising his private library.

The TSU Scientific Library is the first university library in Siberia to use new information technologies for data storage and processing, to service readers. The Information System of the Scientific Library is based on one of the most reliable library systems VTLS. The Library was awarded a Tempus-Tacis Program grant to develop its Information System. The library system VTLS ensures automation of all in-house activities and management such as compiling electronic catalogue of recently acquired literature, and making up bibliographic indices. Besides, it is employed in customer services including on-line servicing, e.g. it enables customers to access the electronic catalogue of the library collection, to obtain access to the full text databases of scientific publications, and to be provided with bibliographical information on CD-ROM, etc.

The Scientific Library is a regional consulting center on modern library technological use. In 2002-2003 the library was remodeled and redecorated.