A book? I would love to, but preferably from Empik – according to the latest study of the Book Institute of December 2024, the Polish book marketplace is in a structural crisis which is caused by its oligopolisation by 4 distribution companies, displacing smaller entities.
The study “The book has not yet been lost?” underlines the specificity of the book marketplace in Poland and indicates that among the markets related to the cultural sector, as 1 of the few, it has not yet been regulated. The deficiency of comprehensive, systemic regulation causes a number of problems, including the collapse of independent bookstores, where highly qualified people frequently work and realize the specificity of the book as a cultural asset. The authors of the study besides stress that the book marketplace is not only an crucial area of Polish economics, but "it plays a fundamental function in building national identity and shaping the cultural capital of society".
The form of the paper was constructed linearly – from the challenges and problems of the Polish book marketplace to the proposed solutions. In order to diagnose the problem, the authors utilized a survey in which participants in the book marketplace participated:
- libraries (8%),
- publisher (43%),
- bookstores (35%),
- creator (4%),
- Distributors (4%)
- and manufacture experts (6%).
Among the surveyed entities, about 79% were private organisations, 12% were public organisations, and 8% were 3rd sector (non-governmental) organisations. The conclusions of the discussions conducted with the curious parties were discussed during the workshop conducted by the delphite deliberal method [to be decided, the opinions of experts in the field afraid are utilized — ed.].
How are the neighbors? Book marketplace regulation in European countries
The authors of the study looked at the situation on the book marketplace in another European countries. As they pointed out: "15 of the 27 EU associate States presently have book marketplace regulations aimed at equalising the chances of participants and participants and securing universal access to literature".
Most of these countries base their regulatory solutions on the alleged Loi Lang, a law that entered into force in 1981. According to him, all fresh releases on the French marketplace are subject to a fixed price for a period of 24 months during which the maximum discount on retail sales may not exceed 5%.
As a consequence of the introduced law, independent bookstores were maintained and more ambitious positions were issued. The increase in the number of titles issued and the quality of bookkeeping were besides positive. Unfortunately, there have besides been negative effects of Lang's law, and 1 of the most severe was the increase in book prices in any cases – which was considered to reduce the availability of books for part of the society.
Similar government has been introduced in Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Greece, Luxembourg, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal and Slovenia. In Germany and Norway, manufacture contracts were utilized as part of the book's self-regulation, namely that prices were to stay unchangeable for a certain period of time, after which they could be subject to changes depending on marketplace dynamics. Unfortunately, these agreements were voluntary, so not all companies full applied to them.
Steps towards stableness – proposals to regulate the book marketplace in Poland
Another systemic solution is the European Parliament resolution adopted in 2023 on the future of the European bookkeeping industry. The proposed solutions are to introduce 0% VAT on books regardless of the format and guarantee the compatibility of e-books on all readers. The resolution besides covers local actors, as there are requests for peculiar markings for independent books and books printed in Europe and for financial support for publishing houses. The another provisions concern the introduction of "culture vouchers" and the prevention of online platform practices on dumped supply prices.
One of the most crucial advantages of this study is to propose solutions to repair the completely deregulated book marketplace in Poland. As part of the corrective actions, we can find:
- the book marketplace protection bill (including the introduction of a single cover price for 1 year and discounts up to 15%, the work to supply marketplace data at no cost, the creation of a stabilisation fund as a safeguard for businesses in liquidity situations, the establishment of certified bookshops for chamber cultural institutions);
- the creation of a Book marketplace Good Practice Code (to monitor the amount of margins imposed);
- conduct an investigation by the Office for Competition and Consumer Protection and improvement of the National Reading Programme (in order to increase financial transparency of the NPRC);
- the creation of the Book Cooperative by smaller publishing houses in order to gain an advantage which they cannot accomplish individually.
The full study is available on Book Institute website and you can download it for free. As announced by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, this paper was consulted by the Literary Field Team, which was set up to introduce changes to the book marketplace in Poland. The band's first gathering was held in February 2025. It was then decided to send an application to the president of the Office for Competition and Consumer Protection on the analysis of recommendations contained in the Book Institute report, to initiate a survey on the working conditions of people writing books in Poland and to send questionnaires to libraries concerning the implementation of the provisions of the Act on mandatory library copies dated 7 November 1996.
According to the information on the website gov.pl In March, the issue of net piracy was addressed, and on 9 April, more than 20 representatives of the literary community met and discussed the conclusions contained in the study "The book has not yet died...".
Participants agreed on the request to regulate the literary field in specified a way as to guarantee a balance between actors and to warrant safe working standards for each professional group in this environment. As a essential condition, it was indicated that a strategy of compulsory transfer of sales data to the designated institution was built, which was besides included in the recommendations of the Book Institute.
The issue of a single cover price for news was besides discussed – according to experts it could bring affirmative changes for the Polish book market.
Representatives besides declared their willingness to participate in the improvement of a Code of Good Practice that would take into account the interests and needs of the various actors.
The Literary Field squad consists of Agata Diduszko-Zyglewski (president), Edyta Wiśniowska, Grzegorz Jankowicz, Magdalena Hajduk-Dębowska, Jacek Dehnel, Rafał Lisowski, Jerzy Woźniakiewicz and Łukasz Zych.
Mom's diagnosis. Time will show whether the study will have a real impact on the publishing marketplace in Poland.
