Wojewódzka Biblioteka Publiczna im. Emanuela Smolki (WBP) in Opole is a public library that has a scientific status and functions as the leading universal and central regional library in the Opolszczyzna. In addition, it presides over the chain of self-government libraries in the province.
     WBP was established in 1951. Since that time it has been reorganized many times. Furthermore, the forms and methods of work with the readers have been improved. The collection of the library is available in Wypożyczalnia Zbiorów Naukowych (the Scientific library), the Reading room, in Oddział Zbiorów Obcojęzycznych (the Foreign Languages Library Department), the Music Department, and the Austrian Library. The valuable and unique library collections which form the integral part of Narodowy Zasób Biblioteczny (National Librarian Collection) are kept in the castle in Rogów Opolski, which is one of WBP's departments. A very important aspect of the library's work is the reach, over forty-year-old publishing output that is immensely versatile. Numerous conferences, seminars, lectures for the popular public can be counted among the library's flourishing scientific and educational activities. What is more, the promotion of books, library and culture in Opole and Śląsk Opolski region is also very important for WBP.
     The development within the field of informational technologies caused the increase of the library’s members expectations and, consequently, it gave rise to the need for combining the traditional services with new ones that are based on computer science. Thus the services the library provides are multifarious. The best illustration of the fact that WBP understands the necessity of information in modern world can be provided by the establishment of Punkt Informacji Europejskiej (the European Information Centre) and Punkt Informacji Prawnej (the Law Information Centre). Partnerships of many years standing with the libraries in Germany, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Russia, Ukraine and Hungary provide yet another example of the initiatives that are undertaken by WBP. The fact that the partnerships are constantly broadened is also worth mentioning.
     The flood of 1997 was a dramatic event in the history of the library. The flood destroyed to a large extent the library’s possessions - buildings, equipment, library’s collection and in addition for a couple of years limited the library's activities. Now Wojewódzka Biblioteka Publiczna (WBP) in Opole invites its members to a modern well-equipped and fully automatic cultural institution. The educational and cultural services provided are characterized by a high standard. WBP is a flourishing and dynamically developing institution that nevertheless pays much attention to tradition and still is able to face up to the requirements of modern world.