Poland’s government is set to significantly increase funding for authors and publishers due to library book loans, potentially exceeding 120 million złoty in the coming years.
Free Borrowing, Rising Costs
Borrowing books is free for readers, but someone pays for it – and the cost is increasing. A draft amendment to copyright law proposes a substantial increase in remuneration for creators and publishers for library loans. Tens of millions of złoty are involved annually, potentially exceeding 120 million złoty in the near future.
Public Lending Right Explained
Few realize that Poland has a system where authors receive compensation when their books are in libraries and borrowed by readers. This is known as Public Lending Right (PLR), a solution common in many European countries. The state pays creators and publishers as compensation for their works being made available free of charge in public libraries. Readers and libraries pay nothing; the cost is borne by the state budget.
Doubling of Rates – What Will Change?
The draft legislation proposes a key change: increasing the funding level from 5% to 10% of library acquisition costs. This effectively doubles the funds allocated for remuneration. The more books libraries purchase, the larger the pool of money available to creators.
Why is the Government Increasing Funding?
The justification for the project is clear: the current level of remuneration does not reflect market realities.
Who Receives the Money?
Remuneration does not automatically go to authors with each loan. A collective management organization handles the distribution, settling funds transferred by the state.
How Much Do Authors Really Earn? The Scale of the Problem
Although the remuneration system for book loans has been in place for years, its real financial effectiveness is limited. Data for 2025 shows that for many creators, the amounts are more symbolic than a significant source of income.
This means that most eligible recipients receive very low benefits. The rates per single loan are even more telling.
Millions of Złoty in the System – But Dispersed
The total remuneration paid out in 2025 amounted to over 5 million złoty, with nearly 3.8 million złoty going to authors and over 1.2 million złoty to publishers.
Rapid Implementation
The project stipulates that the new regulations will come into effect the day after their publication. This is justified by the need to ensure the continuity of payments and the stability of the system in the coming years.
Legal Basis
Draft Act amending the Act on Copyright and Related Rights (project of April 28, 2026).
