The subject of a book, library and readership in e-editions of the local press in Upper Silesia in the years 2015–2017

Abstract

Local press is a vital element of life of local communities since it publishes information significant to these societies – social, cultural, entertainment and other. A crucial aspect of the cultural life of local communities is contact with a book and library, so local press should as well reflect this element of their functioning. The article presents an analysis of 23 local periodicals (1,273 issues) of Upper Silesia, which were released in the years 2015–2017 in an electronic form and were available in the Silesia Digital Library, in terms of containing texts about books, libraries and readership. An introduction to the main part of the article contains an explanation of definitions and a presentation of the typology of local press. The main body presents the results of an analysis of Upper Silesia local periodicals, where the author indicates a number of texts with the studied general theme and in specific issues as well as that corresponding to a single issue. She as well points to information and journalistic genres of texts, detailed themes, their authorship and place in the periodical. Finally, the researcher compares the presence of the subject of books, library and readership in 23 local periodicals in Upper Silesia with the analysed 23 regional periodicals of the Podbeskidzie region, accounting for the issuing years of 2015–2016.