Bookstores and libraries
The number of bookstores operating in Poland has steadily decreased over the past few years. Consumers living in the Mazowieckie (Masovian) voivodeship had access to most bookstores. As of February 2022, the region was home to 319 facilities.In 2021, approximately 9.1 thousand libraries were operating nationwide, with public libraries constituting the highest share; libraries specializing in scientific publications accounted for a total of 790 facilities. Since 2015, the number of volumes in public library collections has been slowly decreasing. In 2021, the total number amounted to 124.7 million volume.
Book consumption
Most readers consume a few books a year. Classic books in printed form are the most popular among Poles, who owned between 11 and 50 of them in such a version. Although books are often bought as presents or required reading, the majority of book buyers bought them for themselves.In 2022, the most successful Polish author was Anita Głowińska. Other writers listed in the ranking included the crime novelist Remigiusz Mrózand the fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski, best known for his "The Witcher" series.
While the book industry in Poland is undergoing some major transformations, its digital segments will continue to develop, thus continuing the writing, publishing, and reading practices in the country.