House of Education – Silesian Library

The Dom Oświatowy – Biblioteka Śląska (House of Education – Silesian Library) is a modernist building located in Katowice at 12 Francuska Street. Designed in 1928 by architects Stanisław Tabeński and Józef Rybicki in the functionalist style, the building's construction was initiated by the Towarzystwo Czytelni Ludowych (Society of People's Reading Rooms), which raised initial funds through membership contributions. When construction reached the first floor, funding ran out. Further financing was secured by the Silesian Treasury under the condition that the building would house the collections of the Silesian Parliament Library. This allowed the Silesian Library to open in 1934. During the interwar period, the building hosted literature-related institutions, including the secretariat of the Society and the district management. After World War II, the Library occupied almost the entire building, where various reading rooms and exhibition halls were organized. From 1957 to 1976, the Silesian Scientific Institute also operated within the building. In 1998, the Library moved its collections to a new building and leased part of the space to the Silesian College of Management and the Provincial Office for the Protection of Monuments. The building was entered into the register of historical monuments on October 31, 1991. In 2014, a plaque dedicated to the Command of the Silesian Banner of the Polish Scouting Association was unveiled inside, highlighting its role in regional history. The building is not only an iconic example of modernist architecture but also an important site for culture and education in Upper Silesia, with a rich history tied to the development of readership and the shaping of local communities.