The activity of the Polish-Ukrainian Intergovernmental Commission for Protection and Return of Cultural Property Lost and Illegally Relocated during World War II regarding libraries (1996-1997)

Abstract

The IVth Forum of Polskie Towarzystwo Bibliologiczne [the Polish Bibliological Society - PBS] "Protection of the European and national written heritage" took place on December 2, 1997, participated by Polish and Ukrainian libraries. The PBS Chairman B. Bieńkowska presented cooperation of Polish and Ukrainian librarians in the years 1996-1997, related to the Polish-Ukrainian Intergovernmental Commission for Protection and Return of Cultural Property Lost and Illegally Relocated during World War II, established on December 15, 1996, under the agreement between the Government of Poland and the Government of Ukraine on cooperation in regard to protection and return of cultural property lost and illegally relocated during the World War II, signed on June 25, 1996. The establishment of this Commission commenced officially a restitution dialogue concerning library collections between both countries. Although, as the author underlines, the realisation of this Agreement follows with difficulties and increasing delays. During the first meeting of the Commission, on May 14-16, 1997 in Lviv, the establishment of the expert teams for historical archival materials, objects of the art, libraries, and specifically the Library of the Ossoliński National Institute was decided, the part of the collection of which found its way to Wrocław, while the rest stayed in Lviv. It seemed that the Polish-Ukrainian interlibrary cooperation, despite "sediment of distrust", would develop and accelerate. However, the following meetings of the Commission planned for 1997 did not take place. However, the author believes that the dialogue between these parties will be continued.