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Russian Books Room

Main Russian Books Room
Main Russian Books Room

 

Opening Hours:

Monday, Wednesday:   13:00 – 21:00;
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday:   9:00 – 17:00;
Saturday:   11:00 – 19:00;
Sunday:    closed

Number of seats : 16

Contact us: 

Telephone: +7(812) 718-86-97
Address: 1-3, Ostrovsky Square, Saint Petersburg

Where to find us: First Floor Plan

Please note! From February 28 to March 10, the Russian Books Room  is open from Monday to Friday from 11:00 to 19:00 for technical reasons.

In the Russian Books Room you can view:

  • items from Russian Books Collections;
  • books and brochures printed from 1725 to 1861 inclusive;
  • editions of the first years of Soviet power and Russian community abroad;
  • almanacs, atlases and albums, illustrated by famous artists, regardless of the date of the publication;
  • books kept in a safe;
  • named and numbered copies;
  • autographed books, items containing bookplates and labels from bibliophile collections.

Visitors can get information about availability of materials  and their shelfmarks via the electronic and card catalogues. If you need help, ask our Reference Librarians in the Reference Information & E-Resources Room.

Items from the General Russian Books Collection are requested and delivered at the Reader Service Desk in the Lenin Room. Access to rare and valuable items is provided to those who can show an application from the head of their institution, organization or publishing office. 

Researchers are required to consult digital copies or other surrogates in place of the originals, in cases where appropriate surrogates exist.

Items identified as rare and valuable:

  • pre-1861 printed Russian books;
  • pre-1830 printed Russian journals;
  • pre-1800 printed European books and journals;
  • items in the single collections;
  • books of small size (up to 10x15 cm) and large format (40х50 cm and more);
  • atlases, albums, books containing a large number of illustrations, prints, maps, etc.;
  • books belonging to famous bibliophiles;
  • autographed books belonging to historical figures;
  • limited editions;
  • unique surviving copies;
  • items housed in special conditions by reason of their value.

 

Location Maps

Reader Registration

Reading Rooms

Floor Plans

Using the Reading Rooms

Food, Drink

Cloakrooms, Storage, Wi-Fi

Accessibility

Book Shop

The Library is open
Monday—Friday from 9:00 to 21:00;
Saturday, Sunday from 11:00 to 19:00.

The Library is closed on public holidays and last Tuesday of each month.
On pre-holidays, the Library is open from 9:00 to 16:00.