Bliskość książek

"The Proximity of Books" ("Bliskość książek") is an attempt to answer the question whether we are facing a reading crisis in Poland? Sociological research conducted by the Book Institute in Krakow focused on those who read and encourage others to read. The book could be titled "A Book is a Woman", because books are mainly read by women. They read them to their children and grandchildren. The predominance of women in kindergartens and primary schools means that the future of books is in their hands. The study was conducted in 2018-2020 in 48 smaller Polish municipalities with up to 50,000 inhabitants. The analysis of the results of this study is addressed to book lovers, as it talks about their needs, habits and expectations. The sociological perspective also allows to look from a distance at the social environment in which libraries operate. It is very diverse, just like the local communities in Poland. One of the book's chapters covers the pandemic period, thanks to an additional survey conducted in 2021. The book can help libraries look for answers to questions about the near future, which seems important if they do not want to lose the fight for attention taking place on the Internet.