What associations do we have with the word "library"? Endless shelves of books, strict employees constantly calling for silence, the need to return the book on time. The modern library has long gone beyond these ideas. Especially when it comes to Russian children's libraries. What is on offer for young readers today?
Modern children's libraries
The first public library for children opened in Moscow in 1878 with about 1,500 books.
In the 21st century, a library is not just a book depository, it is a real cultural center. Here you can not only read a lot of interesting things, but also visit exhibitions and concerts, participate in master classes, study in thematic circles, play games, listen to lectures and much more. Most of these activities are free of charge.
Books are represented by thousands of editions in Russian and foreign languages of different times and genres: fiction, popular science, educational, rare publicationsand novelties of the book market. Experienced staff will help young readers to choose a book to their liking. The undisputed leader in terms of book collection is the Russian Children's Library in Moscow.
Readers can use digital collections of digitized publications, video and audio materials, as well as order books at home.
Developing and creative classes are held in most well-known libraries. These can be English language studios, children's theaters, chess clubs, literary clubs.
Games and the opportunity to communicate will be provided by employees of cultural institutions. Game rooms for the little ones, quests, quizzes, intellectual board games - for older children. If you wish, you can become a member of a club or a poetic society.
Libraries often invite writers and artists whose work can be found within their walls. Exhibitions, meetings, performances are held here.
Library Network
Currently there is a wide network of Russian children's libraries. Young readers from different regions can use the services of more than 3.5 thousand specialized institutions for children and youth. At the same time, 30,000 libraries for adults have sections for children and teenagers.
This area has its own hierarchy. On the top line of the list, of course, is the Russian Central Children's Library, which has federal status. There are also establishments for children:
- regional central (territorial, republican, regional);
- municipal;
- structural divisions (departments and branches) of other library systems.
The tasks of central libraries go far beyond familiarizing readers with book editions. They are also considered as centers for monitoring, scientific research, coordination of activities of organizations related to the promotion of children's reading.
Russian State Children's Library
Today it is one of the largest libraries not only in Russia but also in the world. It was opened in Moscow almost 50 years ago by order of the Minister of Culture. At the end of the 80s. of the last century, according to a special project, a monumental building was built for the library near the Oktyabrskaya metro station. Institution address: Kaluga square, 1, building 1.
The library is open from 10:00 to 20:00 every day, except for one day when visiting hours are slightly reduced. On Sunday, the institution opens at 11:00 and closes at 17:00.
Employees note that among the reading rooms of the library there are general and specialized ones. The latter include: an Internet center, a music library, an art history room, a room for fairy tales, a room for foreign literature, the Pushkin Room, a family reading room, a music room, and a psychological consulting room. There are also lounges, an assembly hall and a dedicated exhibition space.
The library is a member of a number of associations and the International Council for Children's and Young Adults' Literature.
Library departments
The structure of the Russian children's library on Oktyabrskaya includes:
- special reading rooms for preschoolers and primary school students, as well as students in grades 5-11, students;
- Hall of Foreign Literature (in original language);
- musical music hall;
- scientific and methodological department;
- department of project activities and cultural programs;
- resource center (scientific and bibliographic);
- department of creative development of library readers;
- training center;
- department of psychology, sociology and pedagogy of reading;
- Bibliography Consulting Department.
All departments are actively working. For example, the tasks of the creative development department include the organization of interactive educational activities, gaming leisure for children and parents. Also, the employees of this department conduct fascinating tours of the library, acquainting readers with its secrets and possibilities.
The department of cultural programs organizes conferences, seminars, thematic and solo exhibitions, musical and literary and creative evenings, book presentations.
Library collections
Currently, the collection of the Russian State Children's Library in Moscow contains more than 500 thousand books, magazines, newspapers, music collections, film and photographic materials, rare books and illustrated albums.
Here you can see unique editions autographed by famous children'swriters (A. Lindgren, E. Uspensky, Yu. Koval, K. Bulychev and many others), as well as find books in more than 50 languages. The library selects archival materials and rare publications for thematic exhibitions. Funds are replenished regularly.
A separate place is occupied by a large-scale fund of electronic resources, which includes about 10 thousand digitized publications and video materials.
Another significant collection is a collection of filmstrips in high resolution.
Electronic Russian National Children's Library
This is a very young structural subdivision of the state library, as well as possible corresponding to the modern rhythm of the life of the digital society. The project was launched in 2012.
The collection began to be created by digitizing rare and old publications from the library's funds, then materials from pre-revolutionary and Soviet periodicals of the Russian State and State Public Historical Libraries were added to it. At the moment, the electronic fund contains publications of the largest Russian libraries and private collections. There are books from the 18th and 19th centuries. The total volume is more than 16.5 thousand units.
The digital library contains copyrighted materials and free access publications. The latter can be studied, downloaded in PDF format. Registration is required to view protected sites (free of charge). Some titles are only available through the Children's Library's intranet. The entrance is carried out on the official website or through the page of the RSCL. Materials are grouped by type andtopics.
Clubs, Studios & Events
One of the most important activities of the Russian State Children's Library of Moscow is various circles, clubs, studios aimed at the comprehensive development of children of different ages.
For preschoolers there are literary and reading development studios, educational circles, school preparation programs (including psychological ones), an English conversation club, an ecological travel game club.
For older children (6-12 years old), in addition to clubs and studios for literary reading, foreign languages and general development, (more than 10) the doors of scientific societies, creative studios and board games rooms are open.
Teenagers can showcase their talents in class:
- in the literary lab;
- in the club "In the footsteps of great travelers";
- at the Art Education Studio;
- in the philosophy club;
- in the training center "Territory of Communication".
Children's Library named after A. S. Pushkin in St. Petersburg
Large and famous children's libraries certainly exist not only in the capital. Among them is the Central Children's Library in St. Petersburg. It is located in the very heart of the northern capital, on Bolshaya Morskaya Street, 33.
This representative of the network of Russian children's libraries has more than 500 thousand items (printed editions and electronic materials). Here are editions of the 19th - early 20th centuries,compositions of foreign and domestic classics. The pearl of the collection is the library of world children's literature (100 volumes), World Literature (200 volumes).
We are especially proud of the rare book reading room, which includes more than 3,000 publications, including the first edition of Ruslan and Lyudmila in 1821, the lifetime edition of the tragedy Boris Godunov, as well as a number of rare editions of works by A. L. Barto, S. Ya. Marshak and many other writers.
The library opens its doors to visitors at 10 am every day. The institution closes on Sundays at 18:00, and on other days you can stay here until 20:00.
Republican Library in Kazan
The central Russian children's libraries at the regional level are also of great interest. One of them is the republican children's library of Tatarstan. It is located in the house number 33 on the Kremlin street. The library stock contains more than 120 thousand publications (fiction and trade literature). At the same time, the institution is a major information, leisure, and methodological center.
In the structure of the library, in particular, there is a department of mass work, as well as a division of local history and national literature.
The tasks of the first include organizing events for the emotional involvement of children and their parents, familiarizing them with the world of literature and reading. Game quizzes, competitions, holiday weeks of children's books (exhibitions, theatricalperformance).
Opening hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 9:00-20:00;
- Friday to Sunday: 9:00-18:00.
Modern libraries definitely manage to keep up with the times! Don't you find it?
