The Jagiellonian Library, Cracow: its history and recent developments

Abstract

Purpose

To describe the history of the Jagiellonian Library (Biblioteka Jagiellońska), Cracow, Poland up to the present time.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a narrative and factual account of the library's past and present development in the broader context of Polish history.

Findings

The strengths of the collection are summarised, as well as the historical role of the library, which has emerged as the second national library of Poland.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is only able to present a summary of the library's collection strengths, though more scholarly analyses are listed for further reading.

Practical implications

The paper gives historical insight into the development of a rich, historic library collection and explores how such a collection can maintain a vital relationship with the identity of a nation – in this case, Poland.

Originality/value

This paper raises awareness of some hitherto unfamiliar facts about Polish Library history, highlighting aspects of the Jagiellonian Library's possibly unique position in world library history.

Citation

Bakowska, E. (2005), "The Jagiellonian Library, Cracow: its history and recent developments", Library Review, Vol. 54 No. 3, pp. 155-165. https://doi.org/10.1108/00242530510588917