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English Books in Poznan


usafpj  5 | 6  
5 Mar 2009 /  #1
Hello everyone,
I am recently moved to Poznan and I am looking for a bookstore or library where I could get books in English. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
delphiandomine  86 | 17823  
5 Mar 2009 /  #2
There's two great places, located almost next door to each other.

The AMU British Library is on ul. Ratajczaka, next door to Piccolo and located about two minutes walk from Plac Wolnośći. 40zl for a year's membership, and has a decent amount of books. It's about a ten minute walk from the 'new' (Pasaz) part of Stary Browar. For 60zl/year, you can rent DVD's too.

Meanwhile, on Plac Wolnośći, there's an Empik which has a fairly decent English language section. They've also got English language newspapers and some magazines in English too.

There's other places scattered about, for instance, there's a kiosk in the PKP station that sells quite a decent range too. There's also a bookshop in Stary Rynek that sells English books - not in the horrific communist-era concrete block, but across from it.
OP usafpj  5 | 6  
5 Mar 2009 /  #3
Thank you delphiandomine. You are quite helpful. Lets see if you can help with this. What do you think of the Polish course at the Polish Language School on Niepodległosci?
delphiandomine  86 | 17823  
5 Mar 2009 /  #4
Aha, now you're talking about something that I don't know about.

I would recommend not taking a course to begin with - Polish is quite an easy language to pick up, and people are generally friendly enough to not be bothered by dreadful grammar. I picked up a book from Empik called 'Polish in 4 weeks' - and it gives you more than enough to actually be able to get by in Poland. I know the letters look dreadful, especially the ł and ż - but in speech, they're actually quite easy to work out.

I've never heard of the school in question, which isn't too good. I'll ask in my school if anyone has heard of it - but i don't think they have, otherwise it would've been mentioned to me by now.

Anything else I can help with, feel free to ask :)
LondonChick  31 | 1133  
5 Mar 2009 /  #5
Couldn't you just order books from Amazon?
delphiandomine  86 | 17823  
5 Mar 2009 /  #6
To be honest, with the current exchange rate, it works out cheaper to buy them here. Amazon's delivery costs are pretty hefty, and you can find English books for around 35zl or so for your average paperback.

And there's nothing like buying books in the flesh ;)
pudddddin  7 | 48  
5 Mar 2009 /  #7
Most empik and stores have an english book selection. You can also buy from the empik website or somewhere like merlin.pl
I have lots of english books if you're ever in the area of Gorzów Wlkp.
I also have the book 'Polish in 4 weeks' and its pretty good although i think i would have found it a bit hard going if i was a beginner. I have a really good book called "Miło Mi Panią poznać" that is good for beginners, but i think you'd have to order it online. I heard that they have some good bookshops in Poznań, so i'm sure you'll find something :)
LondonChick  31 | 1133  
6 Mar 2009 /  #8
And there's nothing like buying books in the flesh ;)

Very true :)
Shawn_H  
6 Mar 2009 /  #9
And there's nothing like buying books in the flesh ;)

My mom once found those books. She made me throw them out.
delphiandomine  86 | 17823  
7 Mar 2009 /  #10
I also have the book 'Polish in 4 weeks' and its pretty good although i think i would have found it a bit hard going if i was a beginner.

It is hard going, but it is logical...probably best not for complete beginners though, as they won't be familiar at all with how the language sounds.
jonni  16 | 2475  
8 Mar 2009 /  #11
The British Council library on Ratajczaka (directions above) is excellent!
vndunne  43 | 279  
9 Mar 2009 /  #12
Hi. There is a book store on the Rynek right beside DOM WIKINGDOW. they have an English Books section in there.
boydie  
10 Mar 2009 /  #13
Omnibus on Swieto Marcin has the biggest selection (downstairs) and gets fresh stock quite regularly.

Apart from that British Council library, but most expats here swap their books with each other.

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