The report includes a discussion of the major networks / types of libraries in Poland, their status and activities in 2012. Where it was possible the analysis includes data on the operation of libraries in the perspective of the last decade, which captures the changes taking place within them, and an indication of the main problems with which they are dealing. The analysis covered the local li¬braries: public, pedagogical and school as well as academic libraries (including universities public and private libraries), specialized libraries, fiction/specialized libraries, libraries of “inte” centres, libraries of scientific societies, prison librar¬ies, and church libraries including parish ones. The report consists of two parts: a descriptive part containing data according to a specific layout for individual networks of libraries, and a quantitative part consisting of selected effectiveness indicators for these libraries. The study used data collected by the Central Statistical Office of Poland for the part concerning communal libraries (public and pedagogical), scientific libraries, specialized libraries, fiction/specialized libraries, scientific societies and libraries of “inte” centers, and that collected by the Educational Information System in the section pertaining to school libraries. The situation of the other types of libraries is presented on the basis of reports and research results. The scope of the collected data includes the following issues: the legal basis and organization of libraries belonging to a specific network, the number and profile of libraries, the policies, sources and scale of financing. The size and structure of the collections, their use outside versus the use inside of the library, number of readers (or users if they are registered), library computerization, e-services, library availability for special user groups, library staff and their educational background. This report is a first attempt of this scale to present libraries in Poland in every aspect of their activities.
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