Towarzystwo Historyczno-Literackie and Polish Library in Paris: Experience in Terms of Interlibrary Exchange in 2008/2009

Abstract

The article presents the history of Towarzystwo Historyczno-Literackie / Polish Library in Paris located on St. Ludwik from the moment of establishing by the Great Emigration to modern times. The internal structure of the Historical-Literary Society and the Polish Library in Paris is described, as well as collections: books and magazines in the Reading Room, archives and manuscripts in the Special Collections Laboratory (only scientists and researchers), artistic collections in the Artistic Collections Laboratory. A brief description of the three unknown museums in Poland: the Adam Mickiewicz Museum, the Fryderyk Chopin Salon, the Bolesław Biegas Museum, constituting permanent exhibitions integrally incorporated into the building of the Polish Library in Paris. Attention was focused on their own professional library experience in the Polish Library in terms of interlibrary exchange in 2008/2009 and everyday life in it. Parallel to the description of THL / BPP, the then fate of the nearby historic residence, Hôtel Lambert, was once mentioned to the Czartoryski family and was a Polish cultural and political center. The article draws attention to the public debate and opposition of the French conservationist and French Polonia, which took place from December 2008 to March 2009, in view of the plan to reconstruct and modernize the original development of Hôtel Lambert by the new owner.