St. Petersburg State Theater Library

The St. Petersburg State Theater Library is one of the oldest book depositories in Russia. The date of its foundation is considered to be August 30, 1756: it was on this day that the Decree of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna was issued on the establishment of the first professional Russian theater. Having originated as a repertory library at the Russian theater troupe, the Theater Library was later transformed into the Central Library of the Directorate of Imperial Theaters. Since 1889, the library's collections have been replenished with collections of plays from other state-owned troupes (French, German and Italian) that worked in St. Petersburg in the 18th–19th centuries. After 1917, the library opened its collections to everyone interested in theatrical art. Currently, its collection includes about 600 thousand items, one third of which are manuscripts, rare and valuable publications, personal archives of theater workers, sketches of scenery and costumes for performances, theater programs and posters, unique photographs and rare theatrical periodicals. Every year the library serves about seven thousand readers. For two and a half centuries, invariably remaining faithful to its purpose - to be together with the national theater - the Theater Library has existed. More than one generation of readers and employees have invested knowledge, work and love in its creation and development.