Biblioteka Uniwersytecka w Warszawie

The University of Warsaw Library (Polish: Biblioteka Uniwersytecka w Warszawie, BUW) is a library of the University of Warsaw, Poland. Established in 1816 following the formation of the Royal Warsaw University, it was led by the first director Samuel Linde, a linguist and educator. By 1831, the library housed over 134,000 volumes. However, the November Uprising in 1831 led to its temporary closure and the confiscation of many books by Russian authorities. The library reopened in 1862 as the Main Library and continued to expand, requiring a new building by 1894 to accommodate its expanding collection. During World War I, precious books and manuscripts were stolen by fleeing tsarist authorities, although most had been returned by 1921. As a result of World War II, over 130,000 volumes were damaged by fire. In the post-war period, the University of Warsaw Library focused on rebuilding its collections, significantly increasing its holdings by acquiring materials from abandoned properties. In the 1980s, it emerged as a center of free thought and anti-communist resistance, with the Solidarność movement members among its frequent visitors. The 1990s saw the selection and construction of a new library building, designed by Marek Budzyński and Zbigniew Badowski, which opened in 1999. As of 2019, the library's collection had grown to over 6.2 million items. The library's building includes a botanical garden on its roof, designed by Irena Bajerska, which is among the largest in Europe and open to the public. The library also houses a traditional Japanese tea pavilion, Chashitsu, donated by Kyoei Steel in 2004 and used for events related to Japanese tea culture. This pavilion remains the only original example of traditional Japanese architecture in Poland.