PODDĘBICE CULTURAL AND SPORTS CENTRE

   Poddębice Cultural Centre was created in 1977. The following year, it moved into a late Renaissance historic palace, built in 17th century by Rawa governor Zygmunt Grudziński and his son Stefan, the starost of Ujście, Piła and Bolimowo, who probably added a loggia, which made the building so characteristic and original.

   The first director of Poddębice Cultural Centre, between 1977 and 1990, was the late Jan Urbańczyk. The centre was later run by Jan Pietrzak, and then by Zbigniew Skrzypczyński. In 1991, Magdalena Binder was elected director of the centre. At the end of 1004, due to organisational changes, the centre’s function was expanded with sport activities and the centre was renamed to Poddębice Cultural and Sports Centre.

   The Centre’s main objectives include:
- cultural education and education through arts,
- creating conditions for the development of amateur artistic movement,
- gathering, documenting, creating, protection and sharing of works of culture,
- recognising, promotion and fulfilment of cultural needs of local community,
- administration of historic palace and park complex, financed by the municipal budget.

TOWN AND MUNICIPAL PUBLIC LIBRARY IN PODDĘBICE

   Town Public Library in Poddębice (as it was originally called) was opened in 1949. The process of its creation was started much earlier, though. The history of libraries in our region date back to the gentry families’ book collections. The Radoszewski family in Krempa were especially distinguished collectors. Some titles with this family’s seal can still be found in Poddębice library. The least active family was the Zakrzewskis from Poddębice. Pursuant to the "Library Decree" of April 17th, 1946, a network of public libraries was created in the country. In Poddębice, the Town Library started with a collection handed over with a register by the Ministry of Education in 1948. When lending started in Spring of 1949, the library held 800 volumes.

   History teacher Maria Sobczyk became the first director, and the library was located at Kościuszki Square. She was replaced in 1949 by Wiktoria Skibińska, nee Ogłaza, who run Polish Education Society’s library during the interwar period. Between 1952 and 1953, the library was managed by Halina Kafka. She was replaced in 1953 by Kazimiera Bronka who later became the first director of the County Public Library in Poddębice, created in 1956.
In 1957, the town and county libraries were merged with the name: County and Town Public Library. Kazimierz Jóźwiak became the director of the county library, and stayed at the position for the next 40 years. During this time, the library changed its name a couple of times: In 1975, when counties were abandoned, it was renamed to Regional Branch of WBP in Sieradz. 1980, WBP branches were closed down, and the Poddębice library merged with the municipal library and became the Town and Municipal Public Library.

   During its 50 years in existence, the library was located in three different buildings: up until 1958, it was situated at Kościuszki Square (across from the church), to then move to a building in Łódzka Street. In 1973, a brand new library building was constructed especially for its needs (intersection of Łódzka and Zielona). Since then, readership has increased considerably in the town.

   During the 50 years, the library served the society and participated in their daily lives. The institution still introduces new forms and devices to make the librarians' work easier. In 1997, the library installed an internet connection.