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Rave at Russia’s main state library sparks backlash from pro-war commentators
The Russian State Library hosted an overnight “LitRAVE” on 31 October to 1 November, drawing about 3,000 people to dance floors set up in its reading rooms. The event prompted criticism from pro-war commentators and pro-government activists, who objected to a rave at a major cultural institution and raised concerns about the safety of its heritage collections.
The library and publisher Eksmo-AST said the event was designed to attract young readers and make reading feel relevant amid competition from modern entertainment. The library said books are not stored in the reading rooms, and the organisers reported that the building suffered no damage. Eksmo-AST said all 3,000 attendees signed up for library cards, while the library’s website and app crashed several times under heavy demand.
In short
- Around 3,000 people attended LitRAVE at the Russian State Library.
- Pro-war voices criticised the event and questioned its suitability.
- Organisers said all attendees signed up for library cards.
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The case for
The event can be seen as a creative way to bring young people into a major cultural institution and make reading feel relevant alongside contemporary entertainment. Organisers say the reading rooms held no books, the building was undamaged, and attendees signed up for library cards, suggesting the event may have widened access without harming the collections.
The case against
A state library is a significant cultural institution, and critics can reasonably argue that turning its reading rooms into a nightclub risks undermining the quiet, scholarly character people expect it to protect. Even if organisers report no damage and no books were in the rooms, a large overnight event raises legitimate questions about safeguarding heritage collections and whether the publicity and new memberships justify the risks.
Explained simply
The Russian State Library is the country’s main national library, holding a large collection of books and other materials. It is a major cultural institution in Moscow, so events there can draw attention beyond the people who attend.
The overnight event was organised by the library and publisher Eksmo-AST as a way to attract younger people and promote reading. It brought together a familiar debate for cultural institutions: how to reach new audiences while caring for historic buildings and collections.
Pro-war commentators and pro-government activists criticised the event, including over the risk to the library’s heritage. The organisers said the reading rooms did not contain books and that the building was undamaged; they also said attendees signed up for library cards.
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