Silesian Collections Reading Room

The Reading Room provides access to:

  • books and journals on Silesia, works by Silesian authors and authors connected with Silesia published in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, publications by Silesian publishing houses (Upper Silesian up to 1922, Lower Silesian polonica up to 1945),
  • digital collections and books and journals from general storerooms,
  • the Silesian Studies reference library includes general (encyclopaedias, dictionaries, bibliographies, biographies, guidebooks, statistical publications) and specific (concerning geography, history, literature, ethnography, art, religion) publications,
  • microfilm copies from the Silesian collections and microfilm positives from the archive documentation of the Silesian Uprisings 1919–1921 (owned by the Józef Piłsudski Institute in New York),
  • documents of social life concerning Silesia, published since 1961, documenting social life and historical events (including invitations, posters, leaflets, calendars, catalogues, personal and material lists – telephone and telex directories).

Regional materials of format IV (big sizes) preserved in the storage of the Silesian Collections Department are available only in the Silesian Reading Room.

The most valuable and interesting materials have been digitized and are available in the Silesian Digital Library

Location symbol in the Integro electronic catalogue: SLP

Readers have workstations with microfilm readers and computer workstations at their disposal.

A self-service photocopier is available in the reading room for making A4 and A3 black-and-white or colour prints.

Price list of fees and services provided by the Silesian Library

Silesian Collections Reading Room
plac Rady Europy 1, 40-021 Katowice
tel.: (+48) 32 208 37 22
e-mail: zbiory.slaskie@bs.katowice.pl
Monday from 12 pm to 6 pm
Tuesday-Saturday from 8 am to 3 pm

Silesian Collections Reading Room - a view of double stands for readers (tables, computers and chairs) and shelves with books.
Silesian Collections Reading Room - a view of a large bookshelf
Silesian Collections Reading Room - a close-up of individual seats and shelves with books in the background.

  • Online Exhibitions

    These are virtual thematic collections presenting selected stationary exhibitions or presenting library collections, including documents and objects. The collections are constantly supplemented with presentations, multimedia shows and photocasts.

    See