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Książnica Podlaska’s centuries-old treasures are now accessible on KRONIK@, fostering digitized cultural heritage and global outreach.
Over 500 years ago in Paris, a beautifully adorned page of an old print displayed the Sleeping Virgin Mary along with a fragment of a psalm. This rare artifact, part of a collection of Książnica Podlaska im. Łukasza Górnickiego in Białystok, Poland, has recently become available on the KRONIK@ portal. This marks a significant stride in digital accessibility for the institution, showcasing its diverse range of cultural and historical treasures.
Książnica Podlaska traces its origins back to 1910. It houses an impressive collection, spanning from ancient prints to 19th-21st-century publications, regional editions, and even unique works in Esperanto. Since last year, these invaluable resources have been accessible through the KRONIK@ platform.
The partnership between the Ministry of Digitalization and Książnica Podlaska represents a successful blend of government and local efforts to digitize cultural heritage. The Minister of Digitalization, Adam Andruszkiewicz, lauds this collaboration for sharing the region’s best with the world.
The library’s treasures include rare books such as a 1500 Parisian print depicting the Sleeping Virgin Mary and an early Bible from 1561. Also, a unique collection of Polish esperanto works, including dedications from Ludwik Zamenhof, adds to the library’s distinct character.
KRONIK@, the National Repository of Science and Culture, has been instrumental in digitizing Poland’s cultural heritage since its inception in 2022. It houses over 16 million items, facilitating advanced searches and educational utilization. This platform, now enriched with Książnica Podlaska’s resources, presents a significant step towards wider accessibility.
KRONIK@ also serves as a secure digital repository, safeguarding valuable cultural assets from destruction or damage. This integration streamlines management and safeguards Poland’s intellectual legacy.