Poland strengthens support for small, secondhand and antiquarian bookshops

The Polish Book Institute allocated 4 million Polish zlotys (about 1.05 million U.S. dollars) to 80 bookshops, secondhand and antiquarian bookshops under the sixth edition of its “Certificate for Small Bookshops” program for 2026–2027.

The final results were announced after the institute considered appeals against the initial decisions in this year’s funding round. It received 39 appeals, 33 of which met the formal requirements. Twelve appeals were approved.

The supported bookshops are located in both major cities, such as Kraków and Warsaw, and smaller localities, including Zgierz and Rumia.

Under the 2026–2027 edition, each applicant could apply for funding of up to 50,000 Polish zlotys (about 13,150 U.S. dollars). The amount was increased compared with previous editions of the program.

The institute initially approved 68 applications and allocated 3.4 million Polish zlotys (about 894,200 U.S. dollars). Following the appeals process, the number of supported bookshops, secondhand and antiquarian bookshops increased to 80, while the total funding rose to 4 million Polish zlotys (about 1.05 million U.S. dollars). A total of 131 applications were submitted for the sixth edition of the program. Of these, 117 met the formal requirements, while 14 contained formal errors.

Beneficiaries may use the funding to cover part of their fixed operating costs, purchase furnishings, or replace essential equipment. The program also permits spending on bookshop promotion, consulting and advisory services, and activities designed to encourage reading.

The program is open to entities operating small physical bookshops outside national and international retail chains. At least 45% of their revenue must come from book sales, and their selection must be independently determined by the bookseller and include publications from multiple publishing houses.

The “Certyfikat dla małych księgarni” (“Certificate for Small Bookshops”) program aims to halt the decline in the number of small bookshops and strengthen their role as institutions promoting reading culture in local communities. The Polish Book Institute describes local bookshops, secondhand and antiquarian bookshops as spaces for meetings, discussion, and cultural exchange rather than solely as retail outlets.

Since the program began, 504 bookshops across Poland have received grants totaling 18,995,806 Polish zlotys (about 5 million U.S. dollars). 

As reported earlier, 675 of Poland’s approximately 1,668 bookshops belonged to major chains. Chain bookshops received discounts ranging from 50% to 70%, while independent bookshops generally received discounts of 20% to 50%. Independent booksellers also lacked the distribution and online sales infrastructure available to major chains, requiring them to work through intermediaries and bear additional logistics costs.

Main image: Polish Book Institute