Raczyński Library

The Raczyński Library
*Biblioteka Raczyńskich w Poznaniu*
The Raczyński Library; Biblioteka Raczyńskich w Poznaniu
	The façade of the library
Location	Poznań, Poland
Coordinates	52°24′30″N 16°55′42″E / 52.40833°N 16.92833°E
Built	1822–1828
Architect	Ch. Percier
Architectural style(s)	Neoclassicism
Governing body	City of Poznań
	Location of The Raczyński Library; Biblioteka Raczyńskich w Poznaniu in Poland Raczyński Library (Greater Poland Voivodeship)

The Raczyński Library (Polish: Biblioteka Raczyńskich w Poznaniu) is a public library founded by Count Edward Raczyński in Poznań. The library's building was erected in 1822–1828 with the financial support of Edward Raczyński Foundation. The structure of a classical building features a colonnade reminiscent of the eastern façade of the Louvre. In front of the main building of the library stands the Hygieia's Fountain statue created by Albert Wolff in 1841.

History

The neoclassicist building of the library is located at Liberty Square (Plac Wolności). During the Second World War the building was demolished with explosives by the Nazi German troops and nearly all of the library's books (90%) were destroyed in the resulting fire, except for the special collections looted earlier by Nazi Germany.^[1] In 1953, the library was rebuilt according to the project by Janina Czarnecka. In 1994, the library was in possession of around 252,000 books.

Between 2010 and 2013 a new wing of the library was constructed, which helped to better display the library's collections. It was officially opened on 1 July 2013 and covers the area of 11,000 square metres and was co-financed by European Union funds.

The current director of the library is Anna Gruszecka.

The library also exercises control over the museums of such writers as Henryk Sienkiewicz, Kazimiera Iłłakowiczówna and Józef Ignacy Kraszewski.^[2]