In all probability, outside of Poland the PUMST Library posses one of the largest collection of books devoted to the Polish Resistance Movement during the WW II (1939-1945). Set up in 1947, the Library currently has over 8,400 volumes relating to the mentioned subject, including a section on the wartime Polish-Jewish relations.
The majority of the books are in Polish with some 5-8% being in other languages: German, French and English, primarily the latter.
Among more interesting and rare titles are Amtlisches Material zum Massmord von Katyn (German Documents regarding the Katyn Massacre 1942) and Spis osob poszukiwanych przez Gestapo z 1942 roku (List of persons sought by the Gestapo in 1942). A curiosity is the Arab language illustrated history of Poland published in 1947 with the logo of Fighting Poland (Polish Resistance) and the Polish national emblem on its covers.
The main source of the collection comes from gifts, bequests and copies donated by authors whose books were based on primary sources at PUMST.
To date over 1000 titles have been added onto a computer data base, mainly thanks to the staff and students of the Department of Library and Academic Information Studies at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow.
The book collection is a reference library where books can be only inspected on PUMST premises.
There is an author and subject catalogue available.
