Where can I sit and work with my laptop. Where not to drink in St. Petersburg: The best places to work - from coworking to parks. The beach of the Peter and Paul Fortress

"Freedom exists then,to walk to the library" Brodsky

Reading real paper books has become a rarity, because it's easier to download the electronic version or listen to audio books. But this will not replace the atmosphere when you pick up a book and sit at home on the couch or at a table in a cozy cafe or on the windowsill in the library and leaf through a book smelling of typography and dust.

By the way, about window sills in libraries 🙂If this combination confused you, you probably did not visit modern libraries. About them today and will be discussed.

We have already lost the habit of that childish trepidation when you borrow a book from the library for free and take it home for a month. But now such modern words as “Wi-Fi”, “coworking”, “third place” are added to this plus of libraries.

Third place

In 1989, Oldenburg's book The Great Good Place was published, in which he classified the places where people live.

The "first place" was the house and everything connected with family life.

"Second" - workplace, office. It turned out that in addition to these two, there is one more - the "third" - the most interesting place.

"Third place" is an urban public space, other than home and office, which has everything you need to do what you want. Hold informal meetings, study, draw, write a novel and, of course, work too, but in a more comfortable, relaxed and even creative environment. Ray Oldenburg argues that it is the third type that has importance to realize a sense of "one's place", contributes to creative inspiration and even develops civil society and democracy.

In Russia, "third places" began to appear relatively recently. Not all "third places" are the same, they also have their own classification. For example, lofts and co-working spaces are initially created as "third places". Here you can find maximum amenities for learning and working: the space is planned so that no one interferes with anyone, there are separate meeting rooms, a kitchen, printers, scanners, fax machines, whiteboards, etc. And the loft was originally an industrial building (factory, factory) , converted for work, education, recreation and even housing.

Gradually on new way institutions are being rebuilt that did not previously assume the “third place” format. More and more freelancers with laptops can be seen in libraries where entry and Wi-Fi is almost always free.

Coworking in the library and general information about new format libraries

A common complaint about typical Soviet libraries is that they feel closed, isolated from modern life: always drawn curtains, not the most friendly employees, a mischievous old woman with a file cabinet, grumbling at the only school visitor of the day, paperwork when designing a book, uncomfortable and dull design.

But libraries of a new format are already appearing, where modern design, open windows, comfortable workplaces, cozy ottomans and many more interesting things.

Now, in order to receive or return a book, readers do not need to get a paper card, look for a librarian and stand in line - this is done on their own. You take necessary books on shelves and special devices and write them down on your reader card yourself. The system works in such a way that a person, in principle, can go to the library, take a book home and leave without communicating with any of the staff. So far, such devices are available only in Nekrasovka and the RGBM. (*at the time of writing).

There are also book return stations in the RSML. Since they are located outside, books are accepted around the clock.

In these libraries, you do not need to announce your arrival, you can safely go and read books, finding them on numerous shelves that are absolutely accessible to everyone. To sit down at the computer or take books home, you need to register. In the RSML you can sit at their computers even without a reading room. But unlike other libraries, you can't connect to wi-fi through your devices until you get a library card.

Registration in these libraries is free, except for the RSLL, there is 150 rubles for three years. Some libraries won't register without a residence permit, some can. But the main thing is that without a local residence permit, no one will give books at home.

Almost everywhere there is something to eat: vending machines with coffee / snacks, a cooler with water. There is a nice cafe in Turgenevka. In the RSLL, the libraries of Dostoevsky and Bogolyubov, you can even bring separate kitchens for meals.

Dostoevsky Library at Chistye Prudy

The address: Chistoprudny Boulevard, 23, building 1 (10-15 minutes from Chistye Prudy metro station)

Working hours: On weekdays: from 11:00 to 22:00. On weekends: from 11.00 to 18:00 (in different seasons it may be different, check on the website)

For one month up to three books

Computers and Internet: free Wi-Fi, many computers, you work for free, but there is a limit - one hour. You can extend the time if there is no queue. But the problem is that there are always a lot of people here, but not so many computers.

Design, interiors: modern and comfortable, there are ottomans and workplaces, but the size of the library is small, and there are many visitors.

There are many interesting lectures, master classes and other events. Basically everything is free. There is a bookcrossing shelf.

The library is located in a beautiful building where Eisenstein lived. In 2013, the library opened after reconstruction in a completely new format. The fund is small.

There is no wardrobe, instead there are hangers and lockers that are locked with a key. The staff here is mostly young, compared to Nekrasovka. Friendly and pleasant.

Due to the fact that the library is small, there is a feeling a large number people and sometimes noisy. But the staff tries to limit the noise.

You can read while sitting wide window sills, they threw pillows there. View of Chistoprudny Boulevard.

I like it here, the library catches you with its openness, modernity and friendliness.

Nekrasov Library

The address: Moscow, st. Baumanskaya, 58/25, building 14 (10-15 minutes from the Baumanskaya metro station)

Working hours: Mon-Fri: from 10.00 to 22.00, Sat-Sun: 10.00 to 18.00 (it can be different in different seasons, check on the website)

Date of issue and number of books issued: up to 10 per month

Computers and Internet:free wi-fi, but paid computers (40 rubles per hour)

Design, interiors:Outwardly, the building is interesting, inside, apart from the reading room, the rest are nothing special.

The reading room is located in the first sector. Everyone works on their laptops because there are other, more secluded places to read. Great window seats and a beautiful spiral staircase. Reading room:

Library-reading room named after I.S. Turgenev is the first public free city public library in Moscow.

This is a complex of 7 halls, 3 rooms for events, an exhibition hall, 4 book depositories.The fund contains about 130 thousand publications.

More young people among visitors. Everywhere is quite quiet, the employees are polite, professionalism is felt.

The main plus: the reading room is open until 10, even on weekends.

The building has beautiful staircases with paintings:

Art Library A.P. Bogolyubov

The address:Moscow, Sushchevskaya street, 14 (5 minutes from Novoslobodskaya metro station)

Working hours:Mon-Fri: from 10:00 to 20:00, Sat: from 12:00 to 19:00 Sun: closed (in different seasons it may be different, check on the website)

Date of issue and number of books issued: up to 10 per month

Computers and Internet:there are 2 rooms with computers. And in the subscription hall you can sit with your laptop, it is very comfortable and quiet there. Everything is free.

Design, interiors: Castle! Magnificent old interior, chamber atmosphere. There are special halls for musical performances (a fireplace hall and a blue drawing room), an exhibition hall.

I think you can write novels here 🙂

There are themed evenings and music concerts, one of which I accidentally got to when I visited the library for the first time. It was a concert of French classics. There are both free and paid events.

There are few visitors here. Only a lot of grandmothers came to the concert.

Subscription hall:

For the past few years, discussions about the role of city libraries have been going on in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Many of them have noticeably changed: now they are not just book and newspaper depositories for grandmothers and schoolchildren, but third places that have taken place - spaces not related to home or work. However, you can use the library just for work: most of them have free Wi-Fi, sockets and other benefits for a person with a laptop. Moreover, unlike co-working spaces, you can work in libraries for free, and unlike cafes, you can stay in silence. The Village Petersburg editors Yulia Galkina and Nikolai Udintsev tried six different city libraries - regional, large, trendy - to see if they could become an alternative to the office.

Yulia Galkina

nikolay udintsev

Gogol Library

The address: Sredneokhtinsky prospect, 8

Working mode: Wed-Sun: 11:00–20:00; Tue. 12:00–20:00; mon. - day off

Julia Galkina:“You are well equipped,” the cloakroom attendant remarks affably when I hand her the jacket. I'm in rubber boots on the occasion of the slush. There is a flu epidemic in the city (it happens in early February), so there is a temporary quarantine in the library: events have been canceled, but there are still quite a lot of people, and of different ages. What surprises me a little: I heard from my acquaintances that Gogolevka was almost empty.

An employee sitting at a table opposite the entrance to the library immediately answers in the affirmative to the question of whether “it is possible to work quietly with a laptop without signing up for Gogolevka” (however, a positive answer is also contained in the rules of the CLS of the Krasnogvardeisky district). Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a coffee machine. Here is one of the visitors to Gogolevka, crouched not far from me with a laptop, approached the matter sensibly, taking a thermo mug with him.

In the hall of non-fiction literature (located to the left of the entrance) they immediately give out the Wi-Fi password. By the way, the library also has its own computers, which you can freely use. getting settled in round design: an armchair in the middle of the rack, books - on the left, right, top and underfoot. From time to time, one of the potential readers comes close to my workplace and begins to study literature, rustling the pages at my right ear. It's slightly distracting. But much more unpleasant is the pain in the back from the forced uncomfortable position in the designer armchair-rack - the embodiment of the saying about beauty that requires sacrifice (only the victim in this case is me). I go to the hoodlit hall, but there is also beautiful and uncomfortable furniture, in addition, for some reason, Wi-Fi drops. Otherwise, Gogolevka is a great place to work.”

PROS

Friendly staff, Wi-Fi, personal computers, coffee machine

MINUSES

Uncomfortable furniture

Library on Piskarevsky

(branch No. 1 of the CBS of the Kalininsky district)

The address: Piskarevsky prospect, 10

Working mode: Mon-Fri: 11:00–20:00; Sun: 11:00–18:00; Sat. - day off

Julia Galkina:“The library on Piskarevsky is an example of an ordinary peripheral regional library with European-style renovation and grandmothers. Sociologists who have studied St. Petersburg libraries have encountered aggression and absurdity in such institutions - when unwanted guests were rude and billed for using outlets. In this way, librarians tried to survive "strangers" from "their" private space. Branch #1, however, turned out to be quite friendly - or rather indifferent - to the new visitor.

In the lobby of the library, two elderly men are playing chess. Of the other visitors - a couple of middle-aged, they, like me, work on laptops and from time to time they whisper to each other. There is a wardrobe at the entrance, but there is no cloakroom attendant, so I am advised to take my coat with me.

In the middle of the hall - a dozen computers, placed on the tables in a circle. There is no one behind them, but their existence is justified by the large banner of the "Grandparents Online" courses. Two more monitors are installed on the side: they are chained to the table, and printers are hoisted above them.

The librarian gives out the Wi-Fi password right away, but then asks to return the piece of paper to her. An hour later, my grandfather sits down at my table and begins to read the local periodicals, from time to time, either with satisfaction, or grunting indignantly. Me, chess players, grandpa and a couple with laptops are the only visitors to the library in a few hours.

A tangible plus compared to Gogolevka: the furniture - inexpensive and trivial - is quite comfortable.

Finally, I make an excursion to the library toilet. It is huge - half is occupied by a cabin for wheelchair users. Not toilet paper, and the hand dryer smells of burning, or old age. “Checkmate!” - is heard from the foyer.

PROS

Wi-Fi, personal computers, inclusive toilet, comfortable furniture, silence

MINUSES

There is no toilet paper in the toilet, but there are cloakroom attendants in the wardrobe

City Public Library
them. Mayakovsky (Mayakovka)

The address: Embankment of the Fontanka River, 44/46

Working mode: Mon-Sat: 11:00–20:00; Sun: 11:00–18:00

Julia Galkina:“On the phone, they tiredly answer me: “Of course, we have Wi-Fi. And you can come without an appointment - there are a lot of people like you.” At this moment, I recall an episode from the British detective series River - a murder in a library, when it is difficult to identify the perpetrator because most of the visitors were without library cards.

In practice, as a strict young employee informs me at the entrance to the reading room located on the third floor, you still have to sign up from the second visit. In the meantime, they hand me a checklist. I sit down for long table- in front of books with the names "Kalmykia", "Kaliningrad region" and other geography. Wi-Fi is not password-protected, smart - I’m not overjoyed ... until when I try to reply to VKontakte messages, I don’t run into a firewall: “This page is blocked by the Kerio Control firewall system.” However, more blocked pages do not come across. Adapters lie in clusters nearby: there will be no problems with recharging the laptop.

A couple of computers for public use are behind him. At some point, I am distracted by the noise: the same strict employee is arguing with the reader - she asks to free the computer for the next visitor. The girl does not give up: “Why are there two free computers in the next room?” The voices become one tone higher. All of us, not involved in the quarrel, cringe a little. But the librarian quickly gains the upper hand, we exhale: there will be no fight. Five minutes later, a woman comes up to me, who was seated at the ill-fated computer after the “scandalist” was expelled, and asks me to “make a dog”. I press a couple of random keys - the "@" sign does not work, but the page with open mail collapses. The woman sighs, I'm sorry.

In the reading room at the height of the weekday - mostly young people, almost all - with their laptops. But there are exceptions. An elderly woman sits next to me - she smells noticeably of an unwashed body. She loudly slaps the weighty “Yellow Pages” on the table top, starts flipping through and talking to herself: “Okay, the fifth one, we need to write it down.” Some child approaches her - and the woman breaks out into a tirade: “Girl, didn’t your mother tell you that you shouldn’t approach strangers? Let's go. Or are you a boy?“

Otherwise, it is pleasant and cozy to be in Mayakovka - mainly for nostalgic reasons: as if you are returning to student days, but without having to take the exam. At the entrance you are greeted by a bust of Mayakovsky, in the wardrobe they scold you for the lack of a buttonhole on your coat, and in the foyer the workers are adjusting a new cooler. I suspect, however, that some of the local visitors use the library exclusively as a free public toilet: it is located next to the wardrobe and you can get into it without hindrance.

PROS

Fast, password-free Wi-Fi, cozy atmosphere, availability of sockets

MINUSES

The need to sign up, you can not use a personal computer for a long time, the features of the firewall settings

National Library of Russia (RNL), main building

The address: Ostrovsky Square, 1/3

Working mode: different for different reading rooms.
Universal works from 09:00 to 21:00 on weekdays and from 11:00 to 19:00 on weekends

Julia Galkina:“The National Library of Russia, as you know, has several branches in the city: the main two are an institution on Ostrovsky Square and the so-called new building on Moskovsky Prospekt. The latter is an example of pompous monumental architecture and an object of antipathy for art critics. According to experts, the new building is much less comfortable than the first. And in a technical sense, the only advantage until recently was the presence in the National Library of Russia on the Moscow Wi-Fi - however, about a month ago, progress reached the main building of the Publichka. There, following the progress, I decided to go.

It’s pointless to enter the National Library of Russia just like that, from the street: you won’t get past the guard post. First you have to sign up: for this you need a passport and a student ID or (as in my case) a university diploma. In a special booth they take a picture of me (“Smile, otherwise you look like you are taking an exam”) and after a couple of minutes they give out a plastic card - a library card valid for five years.

With voluminous backpacks and bags you can’t go to Public: suddenly you quietly take away a valuable print. I put my laptop in a transparent bag, pick up the control sheet and go up to the universal reading room - a long line of tables with nostalgic green lamps. Each table has a built-in socket - very convenient. To access Wi-Fi, you must enter a phone number: a code is sent to it. Internet - uninterrupted, but available only in the reading rooms.

In addition to sockets in the tables, as well as historical interiors of incredible beauty, the undoubted plus of Publicchka is the availability of food outlets (there are two of them: a dining room and a buffet). In fact, this is the only library from our review where you can spend the whole day without running out for lunch. Spaghetti, meat hedgehogs and compote cost me "132 rubles" (according to the saleswoman). The portion is generous, but the dish is not very tasty. Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice in the buffet (95 rubles) is much better. Local policemen and firefighters often come to the canteen - there are even discounts for them.

After lunch I go to the Lenin Hall. It is much smaller than Universal, there are tables without sockets (but there are some “for doctors of science”: according to rumors, no one has ever been seen behind it), at the entrance there is a bust of Ilyich, but the atmosphere is the same. With the atmosphere - concentrated academic - it's not easy for me at all: I'm ashamed because, unlike other visitors, I use the library space for other purposes. But in general, of course, this is the most convenient library to work with from all tested.

Nikolay Udintsev:“It's been so long since I went to the library that I don't know what to expect. The last time was about eight years ago, when I used the library computer to turn in a text. I remember exactly, the place behind him was paid, like in an Internet cafe.

To find the reading room, you need to go up to the second floor and go along the double corridor. I don’t understand this right away, so the question “Can I work for you?” I ask the cloakroom attendant. You can work, but first you need to get a library card, otherwise they won’t let you in (it’s better to take your passport with you). The employee who issues the ticket in a polite, ingratiating and quiet voice tells me about its advantages and possibilities.

In front of the entrance to the reading room there is an announcement: you can only use the Mozilla Firefox browser and Yandex search. We are talking only about library computers, I did not notice any restrictions on my laptop. Wi-Fi is stable, better than what I have at home (the test showed a download speed of 7.3 Mbps), and the password for it is so simple that it can be conveyed in words. There are sockets, but only on the outer rows: if you need to charge a laptop, you will have to interfere with people at computers.

The hall looks like a school computer science class: three rows of five tables each, computers are on the outermost ones, two library employees are sitting in front, like teachers on a test. In addition to me, five people are sitting: a man over 50 watches concerts on YouTube, another one focuses on cropping photos on VKontakte, a woman plays a browser game behind him. Only two work: a girl and a young native of Central Asia.

There are no coffee or food vending machines, but there are many places to eat near the metro: McDonald's, MarketPlace, Food Truck, KFC and others.

The library is popular. 15 minutes after my arrival, all computers are busy, new people are constantly appearing. Two men came together to chat on VKontakte and play a game inside social network, young people who look like students, a boy who had to wait his turn. No one came with their laptop.”

PROS

Close to metro, good internet,
their computers

MINUSES

Inconvenient location of outlets