News and Events

7.04.2009

The book exhibition «Bookplates in Book Culture» opened on 7 April at the New Building of the National Library of Russia (165, Moskovsky Prospekt).

Bookplates, shown at the display, were made by Honoured Artist of the Russian Federation Valentina Anopova, members of the Union of Artists of Saint Petersburg Nina Kazimova, Stanislav Kazimov and Dmitry Anopov.

The book exhibition «Bookplates in Book Culture» features bookplates, produced for the leading libraries and museums, including ex-librises for the Hermitage Museum, the Russian Museum, the Peterhof Museum, the Museum of Tsarskoye Selo, the Pushkin House (the Institute of Russian Literature) in St. Petersburg, as well as for the Russian State Library, and the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

In addition, the exhibits include bookplates from collections gathered by famous cultural figures and art workers, such as Director of the State Hermitage Museum Mikhail Piotrovsky, the art critics Iraida Bott and Igor Miamlin, the bibliophiles Veniamin Hudolei, Villi Petritsky, Yakov Berdichevsky, Rene Guerra; artists Yury Liukshin, Felix Volosenkov, Semen Ivensky, Nikas Safronov and Ilya Glazunov etc.

Visitors also can see such gems as author's wholly engraved books Paris by Mikhail Voloshin (1997), Peter I's Feast by Alexander Pushkin (2003) and Nikolai Gogol's manuscript book Rom (2009).

The exhibition was organized by the Bibliophile Society of Saint Petersburg and the Union of Artists of Saint Petersburg.

The display will last up to 10 May 2009.

1.04.2009

Every most famous literary artist is a whole world. To ener this many-sided world, to become aware of its unique beauty means to move to knowledge of the infinite variety of life, to achieve a high level of spiritual and aesthetic development. A work by each litery giant is a precious stone of artistic and emotional experiences, in other words, a study in human nature. A special role in this respect belongs to Nikolai Gogol. Nikolai Chernyshevsky, one of Russia's leading critics, wrote, - "We do not know how Russia could do without Nikolai Gogol". It is very likely that this phrase most clearly reflects the attitude of the revolutionary democrats and all socially active members of the nineteenth century Russian society toward the author of the comedy The Inspector-General (Revizor) and the satirical epic Dead Souls.

Russian literature was heavily influenced by Gogol. Not only all gifted writers of younger generations became Gogol's adherents, but some of famed authors left their paths to follow him.

Chernyshevsky stated that "Pushkin was the father of Russian poetry, but Gogol was the father of Russian prose literature".

The exhibition The Head of Literature, the Head of Poets commemorates the 200 years of the birth of Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol. The display is characterised in that the majority of materials shown at the exhibition were published in magazines and collected articles acquired by the National Library of Russia from 2006 to 2008 and reflecting recent researches of Gogol's life and works by the author.

The evidence of a permanent interest to works by Nikolai Gogol is "Gogol Readings", which are regularly held in Moscow. Materials issued in collected articles are intended both for researchers of the life and works of the writer, specialist on drama study, the history of culture and literature as well as for the most general public.

N.Bragina N.V. Gogol: Symphony of Prose is an original research resource for the study of Gogol's literature. The author explores works of the writer at the intersection of musicology and philology. The monography N.V. Gogol and Russian Poetry of the 18th Century. To the question about the Role of Lomonosov's and Derzhavin's Traditions in Nikolai Gogol' Literature by R.Gafarov was issued in 2006. It investigates the aesthetic attitude of Nikolai Gogol that is mainly formed under the influence of his passion for Mikhail Lomonosov's poems and Gavriil Derzhavin's verses.

The historian and the specialist on the history of art N.Moleva placed an article, showing another side of Nikolai Gogol's personality - his talent as an artist, in her new book Moscow Mysteries that examines the theme of the writer and the city.

Nikolai Gogol was a very deep person, who has remained undiscovered until now, and who lifted the veil of secrecy from the abyss of the human soul. His gloomy fiction in the Viy or Spirit of Evil (English subtitles) and the apparent quiet narration in Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka is filled with the inexhaustible treasures of the Russian language and the Russian soul and thought. The real appreciation of his works is yet to be expressed, because only several generations of emotional experiences can bring the Russian society to the true understanding of Nikolai Gogol.

1.03.2009

The book exhibition «The Library of the United States Congress and the National Library of Russia Continue their Partnership» opened on 1 March at the New Building of the National Library of Russia (165, Moskovsky Prospekt).

The Library of the United States Congress is one of the biggest partners of the National Library of Russia. The two oldest libraries have exchanged publications since the middle of the nineteenth century.

In 2008, our Library held the book exhibition «The Bridge across the Ocean - the Newest American Books in the National Library of Russia», dedicated to 200 yeas of establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and the United States, which was a big success.

This year's display of new books from the Library of the United States Congress continues the happy tradition of the reliable partnership. The exhibition showcases about 500 items. They include both scientific and popular scientific publications on history, religion, philosophy, philology, music. Among them are the most recent publications by many American publishing houses, including the Harvard University Press, the Stanford University Press, the University of California Press, the Princeton University Press, the University of Washington Press, Greenwood Press, Praeger Publishers, Blackwell Publishing, Edwin Mellen Press, as well as a number of European publishers, which have offices in the United States, such as Brill and Peter Lang.

The main section of the exhibition is devoted to the history and culture of the United States. This literature is relating to different stages of the American history. Among exhibits are monographs on the history of Native Americans and migration from Europe to North America during the sixteenth century; books about the American War of Independence (1775–1783), the American Civil War in the nineteenth century, and the participation of the United States in the First and the Second World Wars.

Several monographs focus on social and economic development of the United States: the evolution of political, social, ethnic and religious systems of the United States from the eighteenth to twentieth centuries. Some books speak about the role of this country in the modern world and its foreign relations.

The exhibition also shows books on the history and culture of ancient and medieval worlds. Many exhibits are devoted to oriental studies, in particular, these are researches on the histories and cultures of Chine, India, Japan, the Middle East countries. Books on Eastern Europe are also on display. The United States has always payed much attention to Russia's studies. The display presents publications on the history, culture and policy in the modern Russia. Such books as Russia's Revolution; Essays 1989-2006 by Leon Aron; Stalin's Wars : from World War to Cold War, 1939-1953 by Geoffrey Roberts will be noteworthy for readers.

The section «study of literature» features monographs relating to the history of Europe and America. These are, mainly, books in English, covering the period from ancient times to the present day. The exhibition also demonstrates recent researches on leading writers, poets, state figers and politicians like Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, William Shakespeare, Mark Twain, James Joyce. A two-volume collection of letters of the famous Irish author James Joyce and an exhaustive monographic study of works of this world's great writer attract special attention.

Some items, received from the Library of Congress, are dedicated to diverse music tendencies in America and other countries.

The display, surely, will enrich representations of modern Russia's readers about the history, national traditions and culture of the United States and became an important event in the cultural life of the city of Saint Petersburg.

The exhibition will run until 1 April 2009.

16.02.2009

The celebrations of Melbourne Culture Days in Saint Petersburg started on 16 February at 16.00 at the New Building of the National Library of Russia (165, Moskovsky Prospekt).

The agreement on the establishment of partner city relationships between Melbourne and Saint Petersburg was signed in 1989 during the visit of a delegation of the city of Melbourne headed by Lord-Mayor Winsome McCaughey. As a result of this visit, the two sister cities has developed a successful partnership for 20 years.

The book and artwork exhibition «Ancient and Modern Australia» opened at the National Library of Russia as part of the celebrations of Melbourne Culture Days in Saint Petersburg. The display showcases rare editions of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries from the collections of the National Library of Russia. Exhibits on display include books on the history and culture of Australia from the formation of the state until the present day. Collected stories by Russian travellers, illustrated geographic publications, atlases, maps perfectly supplement the exhibition and convey the unique atmosphere of the country. The display also features children's drawings and works of art created by students of School ¹ 606, dedicatated to Australia.

Honorary Consul of Australia in Saint Petersburg Sebastian Zinovieff-FitzLyon, an official delegation of the city of Melbourne, as well as representatives of other diplomatic services and Saint Petersburg City Government attended the opening of Melbourne Culture Days.

Melbourne Culture Days are organized by the Committee for External Relations of the Saint Petersburg City Government, the Consulate of Australia in Saint Petersburg and the National Library of Russia.

Melbourne Culture Days contribute to business-like co-operation and cultural exchange between Saint Petersburg and Australian organizations and institutions.

Contact telephone number: 718-85-60 (Press Service of the Library)

4.02.2009

The book and artwork exhibition «The History of Russian Diplomacy» opened on 4 February at the New Building of the National Library of Russia (165, Moskovsky Prospekt).

The professional holiday of Russia's diplomats was established by the decree of the President of the Russian Federation in 2002. This is done as a sign of gratitude to many generations of members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for great services performed for our country.

10 February 1549 was the day when the Posolsky Prikaz (or Foreign Office), the first department responsible for foreign affairs of Russia, was mentioned for the first time in the history. But the beginning of the existence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is considered the year of 1802, when Emperor Alexander I formed this new governmental department.

The display showcases rare editions on the history of Russian diplomacy of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries from the collections of the National Library of Russia. Books and documents speak about the Posolsky Prikaz (or Foreign Office) of Muscovy, the creation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russian diplomacy from the times of Catherine the Great and Alexander I, the establishment of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union and the modern structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The exhibition enables visitors to learn much about 100 outstanding Russia's diplomats. One of the sections is dedicated to Russian and Soviet Foreign Ministers. The highlight of the display is a story about diplomats, who became famous for their literary works. Among them are such well-known Russian authors as Denis Fonvizin, Aleksander Griboyedov, Peter Tolstoy, Fyodor Tyutchev and others.

Contact telephone number: 718-85-60 (Press Service of the Library)

2.02.2009

The celebrations of Scotch Culture Days in Saint Petersburg, dedicated to the 250 anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, started on 2 February at the New Building of the National Library of Russia (165, Moskovsky Prospekt).

The book and artwork exhibition «Robert Burns and Scotland» opened on this day. The display features publications of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries from the collections of the National Library of Russia. Exhibits on display include works by the outstanding Scotch poet and books on the history and culture of Scotland.

Burns' verses marked the last heyday of the Scotch poetry in the native language. His Romantic and worldly, satiric and sometimes mischievous poetry has released potentialities inherent in the Scotch language that shows the capacity for any poetic nuance.

The exhibition showcases works by students who took part in the art contest, devoted to the anniversary.

Pieces by modern Scotch and Saint Petersburg artists perfectly supplement the display.

Scotch Culture Days are organized by the Consulate General of the Great Britain in Saint Petersburg, the Committee for External Relations of the Saint Petersburg City Government, the Saint Petersburg Association for International Co-operation, the Saint Petersburg Forum (Scotland), the Association for Fine Arts «Primera», the World Federation of Robert Burns, the National Library of Russia.

Contact telephone number: 718-85-60 (Press Service of the Library)

23.01.2009

The important historic date – the day of the total lifting of the siege of Leningrad is celebrated in our city on 27 January every year. This year is the 65th anniversary of the date.

To mark 65 years of the total lifting of the siege of Leningrad, the following events took place at the National Library of Russia:

• A festive concert for library veterans was held on 23 January at 14.00 at the Main Building of the National Library of Russia (18, Sadovaya street). War time songs were performed.

• The round table STALINISM and the VICTORY: the Battle for Leningrad, 1941—1944 started on 23 January at 18.00 at the Main Building of the National Library of Russia.

• A book exhibition, prepared by the staff of the Universal Reading Room, opened on the same day in the Lenin Reading Room.

• A Story about the Library of the Siege of Leningrad Museum in Petersburg, its director M.A. Sergeyeva was held on 26 January at 18.00 in the Conference Hall of the Main Building of the National Library of Russia (18, Sadovaya street). Organizers are the Saint Petersburg Society of Book Lovers, the National Library of Russia.

• The meeting Police of the Besieged Leningrad with Lyubavin, a research assistant of the Saint Petersburg City Police Museum took place on 29 January at 18.00 in the Conference Hall of the Main Building of the National Library of Russia (18, Sadovaya street).

Events for the year 2008