It dates back to the 8th to 14th centuries, a period encompassing the Samanid, Karakhanid, and Timurid empires. The development of personal libraries during this time was influenced by the economic and cultural state of these empires. A deep respect for books, typical of Muslim society, the practice of patronage by royal courts, and the growing production of books all played a role.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, personal libraries in Bukhara, Ferghana, Samarkand, and Tashkent saw a more pronounced growth. The main sources of acquisition and expansion for these libraries were donations from individuals, purchases of books within the region, and purchases abroad.
You can learn more about the topic in the book-album "The Manuscript and Book Heritage of the National Library of Uzbekistan named after Alisher Navoi" (Volume XLI) in the series "The Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan".
The main sponsor of the project is the oilfield services company Eriell-Group.