The “Kashubian books” report: A diagnosis of the state, needs, and prospects,” by Iwona Joć-Adamkowicz, presents a variety of facts about Kashubian literature and Kashubian-language literature published between 2015 and 2024, based on data from the National Library in Warsaw.

The author only attempts to estimate the number of Kashubian books as she believes it is impossible to determine the full number of publications about Kashubia and in the Kashubian language.

This report is divided into three parts: 1) literature in Polish and other languages about Kashubia and in Kashubian, based on data from the National Library in Warsaw; 2) the perspectives of readers, teachers, and librarians [surveys]; 3) reflections on the publishing market for Kashubian books and books about Kashubia in Polish and other languages; recommendations.

As a result of thorough research, the author of the report estimated the total number of publications about Kashubia and Kashubian-language publications published between 2015 and 2024 at 871.

The number of titles in Polish and other languages was estimated at 655 (see Appendix 1). The largest number of publications about Kashubia were published in Polish – 619, followed by English – 49, and German – 34 (one even in Modern Greek!). Sometimes, a book about Kashubia was published simultaneously in several languages. Interestingly, of the 655 publications, only 29 were intended for children and young adults. The remaining titles were intended for adults.

According to the National Library catalogue, the largest publisher of publications about Kashubia in Polish and with accompanying languages between 2015 and 2024 was the Kashubian Institute (87 titles published or co-published). The privately owned Region J. Ellwart Publishing House came in second (69 titles published or co-published). Third place went to the Museum of Kashubian-Pomeranian Literature and Music in Wejherowo (66 titles). Fourth place went to the governing board of the Kashubian-Pomeranian Association (59).

During library research, the report’s author determined that between 2015 and 2024, 216 publications were published in which Kashubian appeared alone, in whole or in a major part of the text and also with other languages.

In terms of publications in Kashubian, the main publishers of the Kashubian-Pomeranian Publishing House (ZKP) ranked first (88 titles between 2015 and 2024), followed by Region Publishing House and MPiMKP (34 publications each), followed by the Kashubian Institute (17 publications), and the Bytów Municipal Office (10 publications) in fourth place. It’s worth noting that the Kashubian publishing industry has produced a group of translators into Kashubian, of whom Dariusz Majkowski has undertaken the most extensive translation work.

In the next section, the author presents the results of surveys conducted among readers (76 people), Kashubian language teachers (46 people), and librarians (54 libraries from the Pomeranian Voivodeship) regarding Kashubian books – an assessment of their current status, needs, and prospects.

Part 3 of the report includes reflections from several contributors (a Museologist, Eugeniusz Pryczkowski, Danuta Stanulewicz, and an Anonymous Reader), addressing, among other things, the Kashubian book publishing market.

The final section of the report contains recommendations for the future of Kashubian books. One of these recommendations calls for the creation of a national (or global) award for the best regional books, which would allow for the independent recognition and promotion of valuable publications from Kashubia. The report includes 7 annexes presenting detailed data in tables relating to publications about Kashubia in Polish and in Kashubian.