The raczyński library, the oldest and one of the largest public libraries in Poland, located in poznań.

The library was founded by publicist Edward Raczyński in 1822. Construction work was carried out almost six years, the front facade of the building was modeled on the Paris Louvre. Grand opening of the public library was held on 5 may 1829, then Raczynski donated 10 thousand volumes from his personal collection. His ardent desire for the establishment of a library Edward raczyński explained by the desire to preserve the Polish language and culture, especially in the period when Poznan belonged to the Prussian crown.

Regardless of religious, national or social origin, all citizens had the right to visit the library. Here gathered scientists, writers and journalists. The raczyński library became a place of meetings and the most important educational institution in the region, a symbol of Polish culture. To increase the library Fund, Rachinskii came up with an interesting way to promote citizens: those who donated to the library at least 1000 volumes, had the right to have their portrait hung in the reading room. The collection has also been enriched with the help of the law passed by Friedrich Wilhelm III, which required all publishers to send in the library a copy of each published book.

During the Second world war, the library, like any other cultural institution of the city, was closed. Thanks to the efforts of Joseph Rachinsky, the most valuable part of the collection (about 17,000 volumes) were saved, the rest was destroyed. In the postwar years the library was housed in the school, since the main building was destroyed. In 1998, the old library building was renovated, and in may 2011 expanded, which gave the opportunity to carry out in the library thematic literary seminars.