National Library of Poland

The National Library of Poland () is the central Polish library, subject directly to the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland.

The library collects books, journals, electronic and audiovisual publications published in the territory of Poland, as well as Polonica published abroad. It is the most important humanities research library, the main archive of Polish writing and the state centre of bibliographic information about books. It also plays a significant role as a research facility and is an important methodological center for other Polish libraries.

The National Library receives a copy of every book published in Poland as legal deposit. Jagiellonian Library is the only other library in Poland to have the status of national library.

Organizational structure

There are three general sections:

• The Library
• The Bibliographic Institute of the National Library
• The Book and Readership Institute

History

The National Library's history has origins in the 18th century (Załuski Library) including items from the collections of John III Sobieski which were obtained from his grand daughter Maria Karolina Sobieska, Duchess of Bouillon.

On 24 February 1928, by the decree of president Ignacy Mościcki, the National Library was created in its modern shape. It was opened in 1930.

Its first Director General was Stefan Demby, succeeded in 1934 by Stefan Vrtel-Wierczyński.

The library collections were to be...
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