Wrocław underground magazines from 1978-1990 in the collections of the Ossolineum National Library

Abstract

During the era of the Polish People's Republic, freedom of speech and expression was strictly limited by the state, and official media outlets were subject to censorship. In response, the 1970s and 1980s saw the rise of independent publishing efforts, commonly referred to as the second circulation (drugi obieg) or bezdebit press. These underground publications served as essential tools for the dissemination of uncensored information and intellectual resistance. This study aims to develop a comprehensive catalogue of second circulation periodicals held by the Ossolineum National Library (NBO) and to enhance their accessibility for researchers and readers. The Ossolineum’s collection not only preserves a wide range of periodicals produced outside official state structures but also provides crucial insight into the social, political, and cultural dynamics of opposition movements in the PRL period. This abstract constitutes an introduction to a larger research initiative launched in 2025 by the Department of New Serial Publications at the Ossolineum Library. The project highlights the unique nature of the NBO’s second circulation holdings and their relevance to future academic studies focused on the history of censorship, resistance, and independent publishing in 20th-century Poland.