Russia is world-known as a country with a huge cultural and historical background. Its literature is studied all over the world and counts artists the likes of Dostoevsky, Gogol, and Pushkin who, by the way, have lived most of their lives in Saint Petersburg. So, since today is “World book day” I thought of sharing with you some of the historically-richest and best-assorted libraries in Saint Petersburg.
Before beginning, I have some simple pieces of advice for you to follow if you want to get a library card “я хочу записаться в библиотеку”:
- Go to the place and say the phrase written above to the clerk at the info-point
- Don’t forget to have your passport with you (and your registration paper if you want to bring books out of the library)
- If you don’t have your registration paper ask for it to your landlord/school, otherwise you’ll have to come back to the library registration office again in order for them to verify your address.
Now, let’s go trough some of the most representative libraries in Saint Petersburg.
Президентская библиотека (Presidential library)
The Presidential library, named after the first president of the RF Boris Yeltsin is located in Senate Square, 3, Saint Petersburg. It is only 20 minutes by bus from school and follows this schedule:
| Days | Hours |
| Monday – Saturday | 9AM – 7PM |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
The place was opened on May 27th 2009 in the former Holy Synod building that dates back to the 19th century. It was built between 1829-34 according to Carlo Rossi and A.E. Shtaubert’s project. As this library hosts different collections, ranging from social sciences to biology and Russian history, I think more apt to researchers and specialists than to someone looking for everyday readings. Nevertheless, if you are here to write your thesis or a piece of research or just as a tourist this place might do. In fact, the library not only offers a vast choice of publications, but it is open also to the public for guided tours.
Библиотека Гоголя (Gogol library)
Gogol library, entitled to one of the fathers of Russian literature, is a landmark for bookworms in Saint Petersburg. The structure, which was open even during the Blockade days, is a little far from the city centre and works according to this schedule:
| Days | Hours |
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 12AM – 8PM |
| Wednesday – Saturday | 11AM – 8PM |
You can find this eclectically-designed bibliotheca on Sredneokhtinskiy Prospekt, 8, Saint Petersburg just 30 minutes away from school by bus. Furthermore, if you don’t want to have a look to the architecture or have a very busy schedule, an online catalogue is available at this link, but beware it is only for the brave as there’s no english version of it. And, by the way, if you want to get your username and password you’ll have to go there to be registered in their database anyway.
Российская национальная библиотека (Russian national library)
This library has a very rich historical background, in fact the first of its 5 buildings, located on Sadovaya street, 20 St.Petersburg, just a 15-minute walk away from school, was opened on May 27th 1795. There you can find the Info-point of this world-famous institution, which is ranked 10th in the top 100 biggest libraries in the world and is by far the biggest library in Saint Petersburg; safe to say, it hosts a very wide collection of books with publications ranging from greek manuscripts to European periodicals of the 17th century by way of more “ordinary reads”.
In this picture the main hall of the newly renovated building on Moskovsky Prospekt, 165/2 Saint Petersburg is portrayed, for further details here’s the link where you can find the address of every building. All the main reading rooms following this schedule:
| Days | Hours |
| Monday – Friday | 9AM – 9PM |
| Saturday – Sunday | 11AM – 7PM |
But, if you’re looking for more specific reads here’s a link to every other reading room’s schedule.
Last, but not least they have an online portal which has some shortcomings, especially if you are part of the niche readers i’ve just mentioned.
Библиотека им. Маяковского (Saint Petersburg public library)
This USSR style library is located on Fontanka river embankment, 44, Saint Petersburg, approximately 15 minutes walking from school, and here you have its opening hours:
| Days | Hours |
| Monday – Saturday | 11AM – 8PM |
| Sunday | 11AM – 6PM |
Though it is a very wide assortment of literature of all kinds and in many different languages and it is more “down-to-earth” subjects-wise, the employees and the structure’s website have a very big downside in common: no language apart from Russian. This may oftentimes be a bit of a setback for foreigners interested in having a closer insight into Russian literature and culture.
Anyway, for those of you that are a little more familiar with the language I strongly recommend to go there and register (With the registration you’ll be given a card and you credentials for the library’s online corpus).
So, now the only thing left to is wish you happy World book day “поздравляю вас с днём чтения”.