Voivode Roman Kulczycki said that Danuta Starostka, a long-serving employee of the Municipal Public Library in Bolesławiec, not only “is very active and strongly committed to her professional life,” but also “is very active in the sphere of culture and education.” The voivode said there had been concerns that modern technology might overshadow books. The example of Danuta Starostka, whose work includes creating databases, shows that modern technology can serve books.
“It is not entirely true that working in a library is easy and pleasant,” says Danuta Starostka. The honored librarian remembers that someone once compared her to the heroine of Stefan Żeromski’s story “Siłaczka.” “It amused me greatly at the time,” she admits. Although sometimes she feels there may be some truth in it. After all, she has been working as a librarian for exactly 20 years. But earlier, from 1982 onward, she worked at the library as an instructor. At that time, it was still a district library. Asked what she felt, she replied: “I did not expect this distinction.” “A few colleagues should be here instead of me,” she modestly added.
The librarian absolutely rejects the view that books are becoming anachronistic in the age of computerization. The example of the Municipal Public Library shows that reading is not declining at all. “Reading is flourishing in Bolesławiec,” says Starostka. In her opinion—as the length of the queues at lending desks may demonstrate—“books will always be here.”
The Cross of Merit has been awarded since 1923. It is given, among others, to people who perform their work in an exemplary and exceptionally conscientious manner. The Cross of Merit is awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland himself.
(GA information)