Every October, we celebrate Polish American Heritage Month, honoring the rich heritage, history, and contributions of Polish Americans in Chicago and across the country. With deep Polish roots and a vibrant Polish American community, Chicago is the perfect place to explore this enduring cultural legacy.

Throughout the month, we invite patrons of all ages to discover Polish culture and traditions through a variety of programs and events. From cultural celebrations and educational workshops to family-friendly activities, there are many opportunities to learn, connect, and celebrate.

Explore Polish American Heritage Month events: Browse the programs below and join us in celebrating Polish American history and culture!

Programming and Event Highlights:

Polish American Literature: Women, Immigration, and Representation

• Monday, October 5, 2026, 6:00 pm – 7:00pm, HWLC

Wici Song and Dance Company: Celebrating the Music & Dance of Poland

• Sunday, October 04, 2:00pm – 4:00pm, Roden

Polish Genealogy: Workshop

• Thursday, October 29, 6:00pm – 7:00pm, HWLC

Polish Chicago Walking Tours

• Tuesday, October 6, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Bucktown-Wicker Park
• Wednesday, October 7, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, West Town

South Side Memories with Author Gloria Golec

• Saturday, October 10, 2:00pm – 3:00pm, Archer Heights

Polish Folktales and Stories from the Land of Fields

• Monday, October 12, 4:00pm–5:00pm, Rogers Park
• Sunday, October 18, 1:00pm-2:00pm, Oriole Park

Wycinanki: Art Workshops

• Monday, October 05, 3:00pm–4:00pm, Portage-Cragin
• Saturday, October 10, 2:00pm–3:00pm, Clearing
• Saturday, October 17, 1:00pm–2:00pm, Little Italy

150+ Years of Polish Churches (Adults) Geneva Public Library District

• Wednesday, October 14, 1:30-2:30 pm

Szukalski, The Mythshaper, Polish Museum of America

• Friday, October 16, 2026, at 7:00 PM

Polish Independence Run

• Sun October 25, 2026, Grove 16 – Montrose Harbor 600 West Montrose Harbor Drive

Polish Heritage Night: Chicago Fire vs. Orlando City

• Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM, Soldier Field (1410 S. Museum Campus Dr., Chicago, IL)

Polish American History Month Reads!

Discover more about Polish-American and Polish history and culture by checking out our CPL librarian-recommended reads that inspire reflection and connection:

• Polish American Heritage Month: Books for Kids
• Polish American Heritage Month for Teens
• Polish American Heritage Month: Books for Adults

Autor: Maria Zakrzewska

https://www.dziennikzwiazkowy.com/artykul/140966,spotkanie-bibliotekarzy-polonijnych-zrzeszonych-w-polish-american-librarians-association-pala

Zakrzewska began her career in Poland as a philologist and lecturer emigrating to the United States in 1988. During her 20 years at the Chicago Public Library, she won a major grant to expand the library’s collection of Polish-language materials.

“In 2000, Maria received an Outstanding Public Service Award from the Illinois State Treasurer. She also earned an entry in Polak w świecie (Poles abroad), an encyclopedia of notable figures of the Polish diaspora, and her work is described in the scholarly monograph, The New Chicago: a Social and Cultural Analysis.”

For more about her amazing career as a connector, check out this article from the Chicago Public Library.

Ms. Barczyk will discuss her book and highlight women’s stories. Following the talk, there will be a reception with refreshments, a display, guest gift bags (while supplies last), as well as 50/50 & prize raffles. Copies of the book Footprints of Polonia will be available for purchase at the event, and Ms. Barczyk will be signing copies.

Tuesday, October 24, 2023 • 5-8pm
McCormick Lounge, Coffey Hall
Loyola University Chicago • Lake Shore Campus

Register today to save your spot!

Schedule for the Evening:
5:00pm View display, refreshments, & mingling
5:25pm Speaker introduction
5:30pm Talk by Ewa Barczyk
6:00pm Refreshments & mingling
7:00pm Raffle drawings (must be present to win)

Questions? Email wlarchives@luc.edu. This event is free and open to the public.

Sponsored by the Women and Leadership Archives, University Libraries, and Branch Z-211 of the FCSLA.

Loyola Campus Map (Coffey Hall is #28 along Lake Michigan). Please use the southwest entrance to Coffey Hall due to construction in the area (see the construction map far below).

Parking is available for $8 in the main garage (P1 on the campus map). A golf cart shuttle (marked “PWA Event Coffey Hall”) will run continuously (4:30-8pm) from the main parking garage to Coffey Hall.

“In October, we celebrate Polish American Heritage Month in the United States. Our nation owes an immeasurable debt of gratitude to the millions of freedom-loving Poles who have come to our shores to build a new land. Polish Americans can be justly proud of the vital contributions people of Polish descent have made to our nation in the arts, the sciences, religion, scholarship and every area of endeavor.

PALA Board Members have been planning these two events this month:

PALA Treasurer Bernadetta Koryciarz has been organizing the Polish Heritage Fest at the Niles-Main District Library. It will take place on Saturday, October 21 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Join the NMDL for a celebration and showcase of the arts, culture, and tradition that is uniquely Polish.

PALA President Ewa Barczyk will be presenting Footprints of Polonia Across America: A Celebration of Polish History & Culture discussing her recent book “Footprints of Polonia: Polish Historical Sites Across North America highlighting women’s stories on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 from 5 – 8 p.m. at Coffey Hall at Loyola University Chicago.

We hope to see you at one of the events this month!

Saturday, June 24, 2023 

11:30 AM – 1:30 PM 

Hyatt Regency McCormick, Field AB

Please join us at our annual program and meeting of the Polish American Librarians Association. You DO NOT have to be registered with ALA to attend our meeting although we encourage everyone to take advantage of the myriad of wonderful sessions and exhibits. It is our first in-person gathering since before COVID so we would love to see you all.  Please spread the word.

PROGRAM 

I. Polish Genealogical Resources- an overview by Claire Geskor 

II. Update on Polish Collections 

  Loyola University.  Emily Reiher, Director of the Women and Leadership Archives

Niles- Maine District Library, Bernadetta Koryciarz, Asst Head of Digital Services 

III. New resource book about Polish historical sites: Footprints of Polonia. Historical Sites in North America edited by Ewa Barczyk

BUSINESS MEETING

Election of Board of Directors

Revision of dues.  Recommended $50 annual

Brainstorming on recruiting new members. 

Anyone wishing to be considered for the board of directors please let me know prior to the meeting. 

Light Polish refreshments will be served!

Zapraszamy!

Ewa Barczyk, President, Polish American Librarians Association

We remember Leonard as very passionate about connecting Polish librarians both here and in Poland. He pursued PALA’s successful attainment of ALA Affiliate status just this past year and the recent launch of the PALA Book award for the best Polish American book. 

Born in Mt. Clemens, Michigan on August 25, 1947, Kniffel was a librarian, journalist, and author of several titles, including two memoirs, Busia: Seasons on the Farm with My Polish Grandmother and Busia: School Days on the Farm with my Polish Grandmother. He was a publishing executive for the American Library Association in Chicago, an active member of the Jan Karski Educational Foundation, executive director of the Polish American Librarians Association, and a board member of the Polish Museum of America. 

Kniffel leaves his life partner of almost 43 years, Carlon B. Walker, along with dozens of treasured cousins, as well as many friends and relatives in the U.S.A., Poland, England, and elsewhere around the world.

Obituary for Leonard J. Kniffel

Services to be announced.

Gifts in his name may be sent to the American Library Association, the Jan Karski Educational Foundation, the Polish American Librarians Association, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Polish Museum of America, Habitat for Humanity, the Hamtramck Historical Museum, Paralyzed Veterans of America, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and to St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Chicago or St. Florian Parish in Hamtramck, Michigan.

He will be greatly missed by us.  PALA will be doing a tribute to honor Leonard’s contributions to our organization when it is safe to gather again.  

May He Rest in Peace! Cześć Jego Pamięci!

Ewa Barczyk

Books in English—fiction or nonfiction, including books for children or young adults and new translations—will be considered. Honorable Mentions may be named. The PALA Board of Directors will collect nominations through January 2021, in preparation for the association’s 2021 Annual Meeting, when the winner will be announced. A list of nominees will then be sent to PALA members in advance for voting and the final selection will be approved by the PALA Board of Directors.

PALA became an affiliate of the American Library Association in 2020, and the 2021 PALA Annual Meeting, including the first presentation of the PALA Book Award, will be scheduled in coordination with the ALA’s 2021 Annual Conference scheduled for June 24-29 in Chicago. The 2020 ALA Annual Conference and a planned PALA 10-year anniversary celebration were cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Membership in PALA lasts a lifetime with a single $50 joining fee. (If you have joined in the past, you are already a member.) You do not have to be Polish and you do not have to be a librarian to support the educational goals of the association or to nominate books for the PALA Book Award. Learn more at palalib.org.

Books published that have already been suggested are listed below. Support for these titles as well as additional nominations are welcome and may be made on Facebook or at palalib.org “Contact Us.” Include a brief rationale for the nomination.

American Warsaw: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of Polish Chicago by Dominc  A. Pacyga

Citizen 865 by Debbie Cenziper

Coming to Be by Rebecca Thaddeus

Country Awakening novel by Bozena Zawisz

Ellis Island: A People’s History by Małgorzata Szejnert

The Escape Artist by Helen Fremont

How Languages Saved Me by Tadeusz Haska

The Life of Marek Zaczek Vol. I: Under the Wings of Eagles by David Trawinski

Little Altar Boy by John Guzlowski

Poles in Illinois by John Radzilowski & Ann Hetzel Gunkel

The Things We Cannot Say: A Novel by Kelly Rimmer

The Trunk by Tom Schalata

The Volunteer: The True Story of the Resistance Hero Who Infiltrated Auschwitz by Jack Fairweather

They Went Left YA novel by Monica Hesse

Victoria’s War: A Novel by Catherine A. Hamilton

“ALA’s priority is the health and safety of the library community, including our members, staff, supporters, vendors and volunteers,” said Wanda K. Brown, ALA president. “As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, it’s become clear that in the face of an unprecedented situation, we need to make tough choices.” 

2020 will mark the first time in 75 years that ALA has not held an Annual Conference. The last cancellation took place in 1945 as World War II neared its end. 

“We recognize the magnitude of this decision for the association and our membership,” said Tracie D. Hall, ALA executive director. “The Annual Conference brings together tens of thousands of passionate professionals and hundreds of authors and exhibitors every year to celebrate the transformative work of libraries across the country and around the world. Our coming together not only galvanizes the library and information profession and its stakeholders, but also provides opportunities for attendees to explore and connect with our host cities. This year, we were especially looking forward to the conference taking place in ALA’s hometown of Chicago; however, the well-being of our library community, staff and fellow Chicago residents has to be the number one concern, and that drove our decision-making.”

Julius C. Jefferson, Jr., ALA president-elect, agreed: “At this unprecedented and historic time the health and safety of our members and their families are our primary concern. I want us all to focus on our collective health so we may live to advocate for libraries and library workers another day.” 

Brown continued, “I am so sorry that this difficult decision had to be made, but I am certain that it is the right one. One of our greatest strengths is our ability to adapt and reinvent ourselves when needed the most. May these challenging and uncertain times find us working even closer together so that our libraries, our communities, our association and our families will all thrive.” 

ALA supporters EBSCO Information Services, Follett | Baker & Taylor, Gale, a Cengage Company, HarperCollins, OverDrive, Penguin Random House, ProQuest and Simon & Schuster also offered words of support. 

The association will be working with conference registrants directly over the coming weeks. As well, ALA staff, in partnership with ALA member leaders, are developing plans to carry out the important business of the association, such as council and board meetings. 

“Although this is a great disappointment, ALA is far from the only organization taking a hard look at its events,” Hall said. “We are using this to fuel our planning for Midwinter conference in Indianapolis in January 2021 and look forward to Annual Conference 2021 scheduled to be held in Chicago. We want to make both of those meetings incredible experiences. We want them to serve as opportunities for the profession to regroup and recharge.”

About the American Library Association: 

ALA is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, ALA has been the trusted voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.   

“EBSCO appreciates the value of coming together at ALA and we will miss the opportunity to do so in June. But, we certainly understand and agree with the decision that has been made by ALA leadership to cancel the ALA Annual Conference.   Now is time to focus on our collective health and safety as the top priority. EBSCO is proud to be part of a larger community that has rallied together during these challenging times.” —Scott Bernier, senior vice president, EBSCO Information Services 

“The Follett | Baker & Taylor team supports the difficult decision made by ALA to cancel this year’s Annual Conference. Each year, we look forward to the opportunity to connect in person with the ALA community, but the health and safety of attendees comes first. We realize that libraries are facing unique challenges during this time and applaud the work librarians are doing to continue serving their communities. As your partner, we are here to support you in any way possible.” —Britten Follett, executive vice president, Follett School Solutions and Amandeep Kochar, executive vice president and general manager, Baker & Taylor

“Gale applauds the ALA for making this difficult decision quickly, so we can all stay focused on prioritizing the safety and health of our teams first, while providing the essential content and services our students and communities need as they navigate rapid shifts to online learning and the closure of physical libraries. We remain a committed partner to the ALA and active advocate for the library community; and embrace this opportunity to work together to find new ways of offering continuity of curriculum and programs during this crisis and beyond.” —Paul Gazzolo, senior vice president and general manager at Gale, a Cengage company

“Although disappointed that we will not be able to gather for this important event that allows us to engage so fully with librarians and their work, HarperCollins fully understands and respects the difficult decision made by the American Library Association. We will work with ALA in the coming days and weeks between now and the Midwinter 2021 meeting where we will next convene on creative ways to promote other opportunities to bring our authors and librarians together to serve America’s library patrons.” —Virginia Stanley, director, library marketing, HarperCollins Publishers 

“Penguin Random House supports ALA’s decision to cancel their annual conference this year. We value our partnership with ALA and will continue to work with them and their members to explore news ways we can connect libraries, readers, and communities moving forward.” -—Skip Dye, SVP, Library Sales and Digital Strategy, SVP, Sales Operations, Penguin Random House 

“While we know this decision is incredibly difficult for ALA, prioritizing the health and safety of ALA members, vendors and staff is the right thing to do. We value our longstanding relationships with the library community and are looking forward to connecting in person as soon as circumstances permit. ProQuest’s support of our customers and ALA is unwavering; we are here to help libraries and their users, especially in this unprecedented environment.” —Jim Holmes, ProQuest senior vice president, Global Sales and Marketing  

“We support ALA’s leadership to make this decision regarding ALA Annual in the best interests of the membership.  We are confident, as we have already witnessed in the past week, that all ALA members will continue to connect with each other, exchange information and strengthen their communities in the absence of the summer conference.” —Steve Potash, CEO, OverDrive 

“While we were looking forward to meeting in person with our friends in the library community, Simon & Schuster fully supports ALA in its timely and proper decision regarding this summer’s annual meeting.  Our work with libraries is a year-round endeavor, and especially in this time of crisis we will work closely with our library colleagues on programs and initiatives so that they can continue to provide their vital services to patrons in their local communities.” —Michelle Leo, vice president, director of Education & Library Marketing, Simon & Schuster 

The Polish American Librarians Association is an ALA affiliate.

“The significance of PALA’s affiliation is two-fold,” says PALA President Ewa Barczyk. “First, it supports our mission of having a positive impact on services provided to library patrons of Polish descent and individuals interested in Polish history and culture.  Second, it is a form of professional recognition of the Polish diaspora and the library profession’s responsibility to address the service needs of Polish communities in America and around the world.” There are roughly 20,000,000 people of Polish ancestry living outside Poland, making the Polish diaspora one of the largest in the world and one of the most widely dispersed. 

“This affiliation offers PALA members a clear pathway to greater professional participation at the national level,” says Marianne Ryan, Dean of Libraries at Loyola University Chicago and PALA board member who represented PALA at the Council meeting in Philadelphia, along with PALA member Danuta Nitecki. Among the benefits of affiliation are: inclusion in the electronic ALA Handbook of Organization and the final program at ALA Midwinter Meetings and Annual Conferences, the ability to reserve meeting room space and sleeping room blocks at Midwinter and Annual at ALA rates, program cosponsorship opportunities, free conference registration for an official representative, and free participation in the affiliates booth in the exhibit hall.

“Perhaps the most important benefit of all,” says PALA board member Leonard Kniffel, who was instrumental in obtaining affiliate status, “is that we can state on palalib.org, on our correspondence and publicity material, and at all our events  that we are affiliated with the world’s oldest, largest, and most influential library association.”

The PALA Board will be planning an event to celebrate affiliation and PALA’s 10^th anniversary during the 2020 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, June 25-30, and all PALA members interesting in attending or helping to plan the program are invited to contact PALA President Ewa Barczyk at ewa@uwalumni.com.

List of affiliates of the American Library Association:

• American Association of Law Libraries
• American Indian Library Association
• Association for Information Science and Technology
• American Theological Library Association
• Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS/NA)
• Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association
• Association for Library and Information Science Education
• Association for Rural and Small Libraries
• Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services
• Association of Jewish Libraries
• Association of Research Libraries
• Beta Phi Mu
• Black Caucus of ALA
• Catholic Library Association
• Chinese American Librarians Association
• The Joint Council of Librarians of Color
• Latino Literacy Now
• Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa
• Medical Library Association
• Music Library Association
• National Storytelling Network
• Online Audiovisual Catalogers
• Patent and Trademark Resource Center Association
• ProLiteracy Worldwide
• REFORMA
• Seminar on the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials
• Theatre Library Association