About the KUL University Library

The University Library of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin is one of the oldest and most important academic institutions at KUL. Its origins date back to 1918; the university’s founder, Fr. Idzi Radziszewski, fully understood that a university could not exist without its own academic resources. Therefore, already in Petrograd, the collection of books began to be gathered, which was to become the basis for the research and teaching work of the new Catholic university in the reborn Poland.

From the very beginning, the Library grew thanks to the dedication of individuals, donors, and communities associated with KUL. A special place in its history belongs to Emilia Szeliga-Szeligowska, who organized the library's operations and served as the collection’s custodian for many years. During World War II, the Library - formally incorporated into the structures of the Staatsbibliothek Lublin - survived thanks to the resolve of its Polish staff and their efforts to preserve the distinct character of its collections. After the war, it resumed operations as early as 1944, and since 1950, its headquarters have been located at 27 Chopina Street.

The post-war period brought about intensive organizational and academic development for the Library. Under the directorship of Fr. Romuald Gustaw OFM, it established a distinct profile as one of Poland’s most important library centres in the fields of theology, Christian philosophy and ecclesiastical studies. The book collection was expanded, the organisational structure was streamlined, and services such as academic information, cooperation with domestic and foreign libraries, and training activities were further developed.

The following decades, particularly from the 1990s onwards, were a time of computerisation, the modernisation of library work, the development of electronic resources, and the digitisation and conservation of collections. As a result, the Library gradually transformed into a modern academic institution, combining traditional working methods with access to digital information tools.

For decades, the KUL Library served not only as the University’s academic resource base but also as a key center for academic and ecclesiastical librarianship in Poland. Its profile was shaped in particular by by theology, religious studies, Christian philosophy, the humanities, and the social sciences. In this capacity, the Library served as one of the country’s most important centres, and its collections and expertise benefited not only the KUL academic community but also researchers from other institutions.

Today, the Library combines the role of a cultural heritage institution with the functions of a modern academic information centre. It collects, catalogues, provides access to, preserves, and digitises holdings; offers access to catalogues, databases and electronic resources;and organises training, information and exhibition activities. Thanks to the ALMA system and the PRIMO VE PRIMO VE multi-search engine, users have access to modern search tools, while remote access to electronic resources supports academic work even beyond the University’s walls. The Library remains a place of work with access to sources, a space for encountering heritage, and a partner supporting research, teaching, and academic development at KUL.

Collections

The KUL Library’s collections bear witness to the history of the University, the Church, scholarship, and culture. In addition to its modern academic collection, the Library holds manuscripts, incunabula, early printed books, and collections of prints, maps and music. Among the most valuable items are the “Decretum Gratiani” (a manuscript from the early 14th century), a 1371 privilege granted by Elizabeth Łokietkówna, autographs of Adam Mickiewicz from the Philomaths’ Archive, incunabula, a unique copy of Sebastian Klonowic’s “Hebdomas” (published in Kraków in 1581), the first edition of Sebastian Münster’s “Cosmographia” from 1544, Marcin German’s mining map of Wieliczka published in 1645, and musical prints and manuscripts from the “Bibliotheca Rudolphina” collection. A special place is also held by materials related to Dr. Zygmunt Klukowski—a doctor, social activist, regionalist, bibliophile, and chronicler of the Zamość region. Zygmunt Klukowski’s diary from the years of occupation, held by the Library, has been inscribed on the Polish National List of the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme. “Decretum Gratiani”, the Philomaths’ Archive, 16th-century Polish prints and “Bibliotheca Rudolphina” collection have been incorporated into the National Library Collection, confirming the exceptional status of the KUL University Library’s collections as part of the nation’s documentary heritage.