This is the English version of an article first published in Polish: read the Polish original.

Few people think of Wilanow as a district with its own library network, yet it has four branches, spread out so every neighbourhood has one nearby. Biblioteka Wilanowska was founded in 1958 and changed addresses several times over the years, until in January 2015 its main branch moved into the building at ul. Kolegiacka 3, the same building where Centrum Kultury Wilanów operates today.

The main branch holds around a hundred thousand books, two thousand audiobooks, eight hundred films and a hundred and twenty board games. On top of that there are e-books on a platform built specifically for the library, plus access codes for Legimi and Audioteka. Readers can also use e-press, a relaxation space and a corner for playing board games on site. In summer the main branch usually shortens its Saturday hours, so it is worth checking the branch website before a weekend visit.

Three branches closer to home

Beyond the main branch, three filial locations operate across the district. The one in Miasteczko Wilanów sits at al. Rzeczypospolitej 14, on the ground floor of the Centro Alto building, covering around four hundred and fifty square metres. The Powsin branch is at ul. Przyczółkowa 27a, while the branch on ul. Radosna 11 serves residents closer to the eastern part of the district. Each one keeps different hours through the week, so it is worth checking before you leave the house, since they vary in which days they stay open longer.

You can get a library card at any of the four locations. All you need is an ID card or another document with a photo, and for children a parent or legal guardian must be present. The card can then be carried on your phone, since the library has its own app called Mateusz, available for Android. Borrowed items can be renewed on your own through your online account, by phone, or by email to the specific branch, with no need to visit in person.

For families with kids it is often the closest place offering free activities, from author evenings to relaxation workshops, which we regularly cover when a specific event comes up. The library network itself tends to stay in the shadow of those single events, yet it is the one open here every week, several days at a time, close to home.