Józef Grycz (1890-1954). Bibliotekarz i bibliolog

Abstract

Józef Grycz, one of the most eminent librarians, significantly contributed to organizing libraries. In 1928-1930 he managed the Kórnik Library. Later he worked in the Ministry of Religious Denominations and Public Enlightenment, and was responsible for establishing the National Library. A proposal for organizing a network of public libraries, elaborated by Grycz, was brought to a parliamentary commission in 1934, yet it was implemented only during the times of the People’s Republic of Poland. Most notably, in the times of the Second Republic Grycz developed unified rules for alphabetical catalogues which he then introduced throughout Poland. During the Nazi occupation he was the manager of the National Library, transformed into the Second Branch of Staatsbibliothek Warschau. Approved at this position by Polish underground resistance movement, he provided illicit access to and protected the library holdings. The course book entitled Bibliotekarstwo praktyczne w zarysie (1945) written by Grycz provided foundations for the process of restoring Polish libraries.