The Lithuanian Institute of History is a state-funded research institution, and the country’s main history research centre, concentrating largely on the history of Lithuania and its historic neighbours. The Institute has seven research departments, a library, a manuscript room and a publishing department. The manuscript room contains a collection of archaeological, ethnographic and historical material, from which it publishes original sources. The library holds more than 154,000 volumes, dating from the 17th century to the present day.