The museum features departments in archaeology, ethnology, natural history, and the museum library. The library opened in 1888 as the first scientific library in Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the Bosnian war, artillery shells crashed through the roof, 300 windows were broken, and many of its gallery walls torn down. Parts of the museums artifacts and archives that could not be hidden were exposed to the weather and the continuous rain of artillery shells. Miraculously, neither the museum nor the library closed completely. After the war, the museum reopened thanks to numerous donations and contributions by a large number of local and international organizations including UNESCO. But later, when the funds ran out, the museum closed in 2012, the first time in 124 years. Demonstrations took place to protest the closure. Several people chained themselves to a pole in the lobby and remained inside while others held sit ins in front of the building. During the shutdown, the staff continued to work unpaid, safeguarding the collections and the building. The museum reopened in 2015, following an agreement between the different layers of Bosnias complex government.