Historical journal collection of the Medical Library of the JU MC. Implementation of a scientific dissemination project in years 2018-2019

Abstract

The Medical Library of the Jagiellonian University Medical College (JU MC) holds the largest collection of medical journals in Małopolska Region. This unique collection is not only an enormous source of historical and scientific knowledge, but also represents a great cultural value. It dates back to the turn of the 18th century when the research hospitals of the JU’s Faculty of Medicine started to build up their medical collections. The oldest journals, mostly in German, focus mainly on surgery, gynaecology and forensic medicine. Medical journals published in Poland have a special place in this collection; among them are two oldest Polish medical periodicals: “Rocznik Wydziału Lekarskiego w Uniwersytecie Jagiellońskim” and “Pamiętnik Towarzystwa Lekarskiego Warszawskiego”. After some time, the collection was enriched with journals printed in French or English, which are still being published today. This collection also contains unique Russian, Czech, Croatian and Scandinavian, inter alia Swedish, journals. Preservation of this valuable collection for future generations is very expensive. To this end, the Medical Library seeks to raise funds from various sources. Currently, we are running a project under the “Activities Towards Dissemination of Science”. This project aims at conservation, rebinding and cover change, and binding of 216 volumes of medical journals published in the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century.