FROM THE REPORT OF THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OF THE PISHPEK DISTRICT SOVIET ON THE STATE OF CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL WORK IN THE DISTRICT
Pishpek No earlier than September 1, 1920
Currently, the situation is as follows: in the library section, there is a Russian-Muslim library in the city of Pishpek, called the "Central" library, which has a reading room. It is planned to open a bookbinding workshop there for one set, if the necessary materials can be found. The library has 1,705 volumes of Russian literature and 500 volumes of Muslim literature. The reading room receives the newspapers "Pravda," "Izvestia," and in the Muslim language, "Iskra."
Recently, several brochures from Turkcentroprint of "Red Literature" have been received. There is currently no open library-reading room in the district. An inquiry has been sent to Tokmak regarding whether there is a library or reading room there, but no information has been received yet.
A directive has been issued in the district to provide access to school libraries for the population, and teachers have been instructed to organize loud reading sessions locally.
Regarding the theater section: there is one suitable venue for a theater in the city (a nationalized cinema building). This building has been temporarily transferred by the resolution of the revolutionary committee to the local agitatprosvet, which, apparently having inexhaustible financial resources (receiving large advances), does not take shortages into account (has managed to somewhat stabilize: gathered theatrical decorations, settings, etc. wherever possible). In the former theatrical circles of railway workers and the Chui Society, he has managed, thanks to good pay, a full Red Army ration, to attract dramatic forces from Pishpek; moreover, there is information from the artists of the agitatprosvet group that they have signed an agreement that none of the agitatprosvet dramatic workers can participate in other theaters. As a result, it is very, very difficult to organize a more or less decent dramatic group during the selection process.
From July 22 to September 1 of this year, the extracurricular sub-department has staged 7 performances and 1 film screening. There is no information regarding theatrical affairs in the district in the sub-department; the relevant sub-departments of public education have been inquired about this, and soon section heads will be dispatched to clarify matters on the ground. There is one circus in Pishpek (formerly Rakhmanov), which is currently operating on a cooperative basis. It has not yet been registered, but is under the supervision of the extracurricular sub-department. The circus building is located in a private shed. The building is summer-only, completely unsuitable for winter, and currently even lacks a roof. Tashkent is requesting information on the state of the theater and circus. Information about their needs is being provided.
Head of the Department of Public Education Litvinov
Head of the Extracurricular Education Sub-department G. Odintsov
CGA KR. F. 653. On. 1. D. 5. L. M ob. Original.
"Semirechinskaya Pravda" on the work of the first Pishpek Congress of the RCSM. Document No. 50 (August 1920)