Gdynia Maritime University GMU

The Library opened when the university was established in 1920 as the Maritime School in Tczew. The first founder member and director of the Library was Aleksy Majewski PhD.

In 1930, the School, as well as the Library, was moved to Gdynia, to a newly built complex of buildings at Morska St., and its name was changed to the State Maritime School.

Some of the Library’s documents from 1930-1939 and the world war II period remained unchanged.

In 1945 the School became active again, as well as the Library. That’s when the Master Mariner - Wacław Zagrodzki, started to organize the Library’s collections. A lot of the publications were destroyed because of the war. The shelfs contained mostly of the donated or exchanged books.

Since the July 1^st 1946 the head of the Library was Józef Fijał MSc.

From 1951 to 1953 the head of the Library was Jadwiga Radomska MA.

From 1953 to 1969 the head of the Library was Wiktoria Hajdamowicz.

In 1968, the State Maritime School was merged with the State Marine Fishing School founded in 1946 and became the Higher Gdynia Maritime School. Thanks to that, the Maritime School Library collections expanded. The newest science publications became available for students.

From March 15^th 1984 to September 30^th 1986 the head of the Library was Wiesław Proll MA. During this time the interior of the Library was renewed.

From 1986 to 1998 Bożena Jacob MA was the director. That’s when the computerization of the Library occurred.

Since 1998 to 2006 Irena Krause MA was the director. During this time, in 2001, the Higher Gdynia Maritime School was renamed Gdynia Maritime Academy.

Since September 1^st 2006 the Library director was Jolanta Maciejewska MA.

In 2014, the Library was relocated to a new seating, which was adapted after the old boiler room.

On September 25^th 2014 the Main Library became the Master Mariner Olgierd Borchardt’s Library.

Joanna Krzywonos PhD is the current Library director, since 1^st December 2018.

In August 2019 the Library went through a major renovation – freshly painted walls and new furniture. The Magazines Reading Room was rearranged and became a first ever Student’s Lounge room at the Maritime University. It was open for use on October 1^st 2020.

In July 2021 the first audit of the Library collections was conducted. About 100 thousand volumes were organized.

UMG Explorers – Discover the Secrets of Science project was organized from 1st November 2021 to 31st August 2022. It was meant to show off the University’s offer to the high school students.

The Reading room was reorganized during summer 2022-2023. A new study space was introduced.

Because of the decision of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland from June 16^th 2023, the Main Library was affiliated to the Nationwide Library Network. During that year the Maritime University Library started a partnership with the National Library. Thanks to that, our collections are visible on their catalogue.

On November 23^rd 2023 the new system Alma and multi search tool Primo were introduced to our readers. Ordering scans, making a reservation for the Conference Room and Individual Workroom is now available. Accessing the Library’s traditional and digital resources became easier.

On December 18^th 2023 the Main Library became a part of the Library’s Directors of Polish Academic Schools Conference, because of the Maritime University’s membership with the Polish Academic Rectors Conference. During this year we also became a member of the Libraries of the Polish Universities of Technology group (BPUT).  

On June 6^th and 7^th 2024 the Library’s director - Joanna Krzywonos PhD, participated in the Library’s Directors of Polish Academic Schools Conference, which took place at the Czestochowa University of Technology.