Mieskaja Biblioteka Publiczna im. J. Slowackiego, Tarnow

Tarnow is a historical city with around 100 000 inhabitants, 80 kilometers from Krakow. Close to the main pedestrian street there is a very traditional library building serving adults and children. The library has got its name according to the romantic Polish poet Juliusz Slowacki. The adult department is cramp in general. The distance between bookshelves is extremely narrow. Hardly any seats are available. Book collection – which also includes audiobooks – is large but worn-out. Even new books look old with their plastic covers. Children´s department is more spacious but it is in upper floors with no lift connection. At a distance of 300 meters in the main street there is a separate reference library. Even that is in upper floors without lift. One star: Poor.