PROMOTION OF BOOKS AND BOOK-READING BY THE CRACOW MONTHLY 'ZNICZ', 1930-1939

This article focuses on one aspect of the educational and cultural activities of the Cracow branch of the Union of Rural Youth (ZMW-Wici), ie. the promotion of books and book­reading on the pages of its monthly 'Znicz'. Over the period 1930-1939 the magazine published numerous articles, reviews, advertisements and other materials which were dedicated to this theme. It appears that cultural, educational and political aspects were very much part of the model of book promotion and book-reading developed by 'Znicz'. Special attention was paid to the autodidactic use of books and the role of reading in raising the levels of general knowledge among the rural population. It should be noted, however, that the 'Znicz' project of expanding the social integration was not free from ideological bias. The article examines in greater detail the way in which the editors tried to teach their readers some reading and comprehension skills.