Biblioteka Muzeum Techniczno-Przemysłowego w Krakowie (1868–1950). Zarys dziejów

Abstract

The Museum of Technology and Industry in Krakow – the first museum of this kind in Poland – founded by dr. Adrian Baraniecki, was provided with a library from the beginning of existence. In 1868 the library consisted of a couple of thousand-volume collection of the Founder, who assigned the library a significant role in the structure of the museum and in its educational tasks. The starting period of the library’s history, from 1868 to 1913, in spite of some problems with location, was fruitful for the development of the increasing book-collection and the initiation of the graphic collection. The new address, a beautiful, spacious building in Smoleńsk st., allowed for further development of both the Museum and the library. The period between the two World Wars was the time of the greatest thriving of the institution, when the character of its collections was established and the range of its influence was the widest. The library, for many years directed by Kazimierz Witkiewicz, attracted a circle of many distinguished bibliophiles, participated in the famous publishing activity of the Museum, and, serving the needs of the artistic milieu of Krakow, soon became the largest public library in the city. The library collection was enriched – apart from the purchases – by numerous donations, among which the greatest and most famous is the collection of valuable books and graphics presented to the library by Helena Dąbczańska from Lviv. The Museum was closed in 1950. The building in Smoleńsk st. and the library collections were handed over to the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow.