У-35

КРАСНЫЙ УГОЛОК NP usu. sing fixed WO

a room in an institution, dormitory, hotel etc that can be used for various activities-reading, small meetings, instruction etc

activity room

reading (information,conference, study) room day room reading and recreation room.

Там тебе, на лесопункте, и красный уголок, и столовка, и ларёк - всё, что надо (Абрамов 1). At their logging station they have a recreation and reading room and a canteen and a little store-everything they need (1a).

The name «красный уголок» is a takeoff on «красный угол» (see У-30), with «красный» in this case meaning "related to a revolution or a socialist regime." Originally used by the Communist Party as a site for Communist agitation, Party functions, and the dispersal of propaganda, the room was later put to more general use, but it long retained certain Party-related features, such as a ready supply of Communist literature.