Библиотека оснащается новыми компьютерами.

The library is being equipped with new computers.

Breakdown of Библиотека оснащается новыми компьютерами.

• новый: new
• библиотека: the library
• компьютер: the computer
• оснащаться: to be equipped

Questions & Answers about Библиотека оснащается новыми компьютерами.

What does оснащается mean, and how does the -ся ending affect the verb?

оснащается is the passive-reflexive imperfective present form of the verb оснащать (“to equip”). The -ся suffix turns an active verb into a passive-reflexive construction, so instead of “somebody equips the library,” it becomes “the library is being equipped.”

Why is новыми компьютерами in the instrumental case, and how does Russian express “with” in such constructions?

In Russian, verbs like оснащаться use the instrumental case to indicate the means or instrument (“what it is equipped with”). There is no separate preposition for “with” in this structure—the instrumental case alone carries that meaning.
– новыми: instrumental plural of новый (“new”)
– компьютерами: instrumental plural of компьютер

What is the aspect and tense of оснащается, and what nuance does that give?

This is the imperfective aspect in the present tense. Imperfective verbs describe ongoing or habitual actions. So Библиотека оснащается suggests “the library is in the process of being equipped” or “the library regularly gets equipped,” rather than a one-time completed event.

How would you express a completed action (“the library has been equipped with new computers”) using a perfective form or a passive participle?

To highlight a finished action or state, use the perfective passive participle with a form of быть:

• Past: Библиотека была оснащена новыми компьютерами. (“The library was equipped with new computers.”)
• Future: Библиотека будет оснащена новыми компьютерами. (“The library will be equipped with new computers.”)

Where is the stress in оснащается, and how would you roughly pronounce it?

The stress falls on the second а: оснащАется. Approximate phonetics: [os-nah-SHAH-yet-sya].

Are there synonyms to оснащаться, and how similar are they in use?

Yes. Common alternatives include:
• оборудоваться (“to be equipped”) – often used for mechanical or technical setups.
• обеспечиваться (“to be provided with”) – more general, can refer to supplies or services.
All can convey “getting something needed,” but choose based on context: оборудоваться for hardware/equipment, обеспечиваться for provisions or resources.