Dispersed, displaced and taken over book collections. Problems of preservation, documentation and information

Abstract

Historical collections admittedly belong to cultural property. A book as a cultural object is subject to a protection guaranteed by relevant national and international legal regulations. The article postulates provision of adequate availability to information concerning dispersed and displaced book collections abroad, as to a common world cultural heritage. It would be possible under condition of their localisation and documentation. Answering to such a need, the Polish Society for Book Studies took an initiative, in the result of which the Documentation of Historical Book Collections Unit in the National Library was established. The year of its experience confirms the need of its existence and allow for further plans of its development.