Konin library receives unique 1922 Jewish library catalogue

The Zofia Urbanowska Municipal Public Library in Konin has received a unique 1922 catalogue from the Jewish Library and Social Reading Room. This document is the only known specimen of its kind and provides specific details regarding the titles read by local residents over a century ago.

The catalogue was returned to Konin by Lee Langley, widow of Theo Richmond, a descendant of Konin’s Jewish community. The document had been in London since it was taken from the city by Jakub Sarna, Richmond’s uncle, more than 100 years ago. Its return was facilitated by the efforts of local residents Aleksandra and Julia Olesiak.

Historically, the Jewish library in Konin operated from 1905 and was one of the largest in the Łódź region, with a collection exceeding 10,000 volumes by 1938. Notably, 78 percent of its publications were in Polish, making it a resource for residents of various faiths. Because the catalogue is partially written in Yiddish, it will undergo translation, conservation, and digitization to assist historical research.