Open AccessJewish public libraries in interwar Poland
Author(s) -
Monika Biesaga
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
z badań nad książką i księgozbiorami historycznymi
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2544-8730
pISSN - 1897-0788
DOI - 10.33077/uw.25448730.zbkh.2020.196
Subject(s) - judaism , interwar period , opposition (politics) , haskalah , economic history , odds , political science , jewish studies , history , ancient history , law , world war ii , politics , archaeology , medicine , logistic regression
This article presents the genesis and the organizational structure of the Jewish public libraries (also referred to as secular or modern in the literature) in interwar Poland (1918-1939). The origins of these institutions date back to the 19th century and are associated with the Haskalah movement. Due to the strong opposition of the Orthodox Jews and local authorities, the majority of the first libraries were established secretly and run illegally on private premises. Against what were then the odds, progress prevailed and the libraries flourished in the interwar period. In 1937 it was estimated that there were approximately 1,000 Jewish public libraries in Poland.