The article is devoted to the vectors and marks in the development of the Perm State Regional Universal Library named after A.M. Gorky rare collection for a long historical period: from its foundation in 1836–1935 to the formation of all traditional for rare collections areas of activity. Particular attention is paid to the changes that the rare collection is undergoing in recent years in connection with the introduction of the concept of “book monuments”, the formation of a new approach to conservation, accounting, state registration and promotion of rare collections and book monuments. The author shows the transformation of approaches to the accessibility of rare collections, dwells on the concept of “open rare collection”, which is embodied in the work of the library. Separately, the activities of the Regional Center “Book Monuments of the Perm Territory” are shown, aimed at identifying, cataloging and by the piece scientific description of handwritten books and early printed publications, methodological work on training personnel to work with rare collections and book monuments. The work on presenting book monuments in the “National Electronic Library”, in printed collections and catalogs of individual stocks and collections, on partnership cooperation in implementing exhibition and educational projects of recent years is described.Modern approaches to organizing collections storage, creating exhibition space and work with researchers in the reading room and in the virtual space facilitate preservation of collections, promotion of knowledge about the rare collection of the Perm State Regional Universal Library named after A.M. Gorky and information openness.