Art. 1: Urszula Grygier,
Jewish Historical Research Institute Judaica collections in the research library.

The article recalls the history of the Library of the Jewish Historical Research Institute since 1860, which marks the birth of the idea to build a collection of religious works at the synagogue, through the boom of the Main Judaica Library during the between-the-wars period, its plundering during WWII until the present time. The current collections of the JHRI Library consist of the legacy of historical works, modern publications on Jewish history and culture, literature in Hebrew and Yiddish, periodicals, old prints and manuscripts. New items are acquired as gifts, exchange items and purchases. The Library conducts an exchange programme with several dozen libraries and research institutions of similar profile, functioning outside of Poland. Since 2000, the library collections are catalogued in ALEPH.

Art. 2: Markus Kendziora,
Library and information activity of the Goethe-Institute in Warsaw. The scope and objectives of German library and information activity abroad.

For over ten years, the Goethe-Institute in Warsaw has been devoted to the popularization of the German language and culture. The Information Centre/Library of the Goethe-Institute in Warsaw offers access to over 13 thousand volumes of books and media publications, as well as, the Internet. It provides a forum for those interested in German culture, belles-lettres, and other publications dealing with German subjects. The scope of the library focuses, above all, on fields related to culture, such as, belles-lettres, philosophy, art and history, while non-regional newspapers and magazines complete the offer of print and media publications on German subjects. Another area of library services is the informative function. Every day, the Information Centre of the Goethe-Institute in Warsaw receives queries from all over Poland and Germany. Furthermore, librarians of the Goethe-Institute work together with other library-information centres, publishing and bookselling institutions in Poland. The promotion of German literature and its translation to Polish is another area of activity of the Goethe-Institute. The Information Centre/Library aims to act as a liaison in spreading the current portrait of Germany, therefore the primary aspect of library and information work is based on maintaining ongoing contact with the people of the country, where we are hosted and with our Polish partner institutions.

Art. 3: Maria Schaffler,
Minority rights in Hungary against the European backdrop. National Library of Foreign Literature in Budapest.

The article opens with a historical background of first divisions among humans and the emergence of the notion of minorities. Next, the author focuses on the post-WWII situation, taking into account the precise definitions and the subject division of organizations in the European Union, as well as, minorities in other European countries.
Subsequent topics covered include:

• history of minorities in Hungary, traditional tolerance (a survey of the most important events in the history since St. Stephen until the present);
• fragments of the Act LXXVII of 1993 about national and ethnic minorities;
• outline of activities of self-governments of specific minorities in Hungary (politics and culture: achievements, problems and future plans);
• National Library of Foreign Literature as a coordinator of activities of national libraries in Hungary;
• Polish minority in Hungary - traditions and present state.

Art. 4: Maria Pidłypczak-Majerowicz,
National minority libraries in Poland: outline.

The article discusses Polish literature on national minorities considering two identifiable periods. The first period spans from post-War years to 1989 and, the second covers the period from the late 1980s to 2003. National minority libraries in the People's Republic of Poland and after 1989 were divided into three specific groups: school libraries, libraries established in unions and associations, as well as, substantial scientific collections, accumulated and used in university and non-academic institutes. This division refers to above all libraries of larger ethnic concentrations, such as German, Belorussian, Ukrainian and Jewish. Further, the article brings attention to the origins of small interest in libraries for ethnic minorities in Poland.

Art. 5: Grażyna Twardak,
Kutuphane means library.

The article presents the Kreuzberg district library (Germany), established in 1964. In addition to its fundamental role, the Library is a meeting point for multicultural events and media communications of Turkish families of the district.

Art. 6: Teresa Pomorska,
The treasures of the Jewish nation: historical outline.

The article is based on the author's master's thesis. The introduction discusses the traditions of collecting, preserving and providing access to Hebraica collections. Subsequently, the history and development of Jewish research and educational libraries in Poland were presented.