Let's create history together: the Presidential Library has launched a large-scale cultural program at the New Year’s Book Salon

The Presidential Library presented the “Living Room of Historical Knowledge” at the First St. Petersburg New Year’s Book Salon, which today, December 13, 2018, first accepted the attendees.

A unique cultural and entertainment program has been prepared especially for guests of the Presidential Library’s stand. It started with the presentation of the book “Anatoly Rakhlin. Coach”, which tells about the life of the famous mentor, the pioneer of judo in our country, Anatoly Rakhlin, and was written by his son Mikhail. He continued the work of his father and is the honored coach of Russia, president of the Judo Federation of St. Petersburg. Anyone could personally ask Mikhail Rakhlin questions and get an autograph. Earlier, the author submitted his book to the Presidential Library’s collections - it was digitized and is now available on the institution’s portal.  

Speaking to the audience, the Acting Director General of the Presidential Library, Valentin Sidorin, stressed that the presentation of the book about the deserved coach was the first event in the “Living Room of Historical Knowledge”: “This is a book about a person from whom today's youth should take an example of. Anatoly Semyonovich taught not to be afraid of anything and he was constantly in a state of answering the challenges from his very childhood spent in besieged Leningrad”.

Valentin Sidorin also spoke about the plans of the Presidential Library for the next 2019. In particular, an agreement was reached on digitizing the rare issues of the newspaper of the legendary Putilov factory - now the shipyard “Severnaya Verf”. During the negotiations with the company, truly surprising facts came to light: “It was at the Putilov factory that Anatoly Semenovich Rakhlin’s father worked. This information allowed to fill a white spot in the history of the life of the great coach. The story continues. People make it. I urge everyone to actively participate in this process together with the Presidential Library!”, - said Valentin Sidorin.

As part of the Presidential Library’s stand, today one of its long-time partners, the Museum of Urban Transport, presented its project. The guests were told in detail about the history of the Petersburg tram and trolleybus.

It is worth noting that children are especially welcome in the “Living Room of Historical Knowledge”. For them, a number of quizzes have been prepared, the winners of which will receive prizes from the Presidential Library - reprint New Year's editions of Murzilka. Meetings with well-known children's writers Marina Lykova and Tatyana Kudryavtseva will be held. In addition, young guests will be able to master the publishing industry: in a special master class they will be taught how to make their own journal: write notes and draw illustrations for them.

Another partner of the Presidential Library, the Book Chapel - will show how to create comics: under the guidance of experienced artists, children will master the art of graphic novel, reviving a character and endowing him with emotions.

Adults in the “Living Room of Historical Knowledge” will not be bored either. They are waiting for a virtual tour of the historic building of the Synod on Senate Square, 3, where the Presidential Library is now located.

A new project of the Presidential Library - the Poetic Club will also be presented at the New Year’s Book Salon. Its first meeting took place this November. Poets, readers, authors, performers and connoisseurs of literary art have united on one platform to make a historic journey, to immerse themselves in the musical and poetic recollection of the outstanding masters of the pen of the past, and also to get familiar with new names.

The first St. Petersburg New Year's Book Salon will be open until December 16 at the ARTPLAY trade and exhibition center at Krasnogvardeiskaya Square, 3.

The motto of the salon - "The book is the best gift!". The main focus is on literature and events for children and adolescents, as well as print publications, which are always nice to give or receive as a gift - memoirs, albums on art. Attendees of the Book Salon are waiting for the lectures of popular scientists, presentations of new books and theatrical program.