Poznań’s Raczyński Library has a varied programme lined up for October, from an unconventional viola recital to a meeting with Japanese novelist Toshikazu Kawaguchi, author of the internationally popular Before the Coffee Gets Cold series.
The programme offers several reasons to visit one of the city’s best-known cultural institutions this autumn. Alongside the performances and author talk, visitors can browse a second-hand book sale or discover more about the library’s extensive collections.
Meet Toshikazu Kawaguchi in Poznań
Readers of contemporary Japanese fiction will have an opportunity to hear from Toshikazu Kawaguchi when he visits the Raczyński Library on 28 October.
Kawaguchi is best known for Before the Coffee Gets Cold, a series built around a small Tokyo café where customers can travel back in time, provided they return before their coffee gets cold. Its blend of everyday encounters, regret and second chances has attracted a substantial international readership. The first volume has sold more than a million copies, and the series continued with its sixth instalment, Before I Knew I Loved You, published in spring 2026.
During the Poznań event, Kawaguchi will discuss his writing and his work on the next instalment of the series.
The conversation will be hosted by Łukasz Chmara, a literature promoter and book-media creator. Japanese-to-Polish interpretation will be provided by Dr Andrzej Świrkowski, a Japanologist, translator and academic at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań.
Registration opens on 14 October by email at zapisy@bracz.edu.pl, from 08:00. Given the popularity of Kawaguchi’s books, readers interested in attending should check the library’s registration arrangements promptly.
A viola recital with an unexpected twist
Classical music takes a less conventional turn with Lecą słówka, gra altówka (Words fly, the viola plays), a performance by Marcin Murawski, viola player and lecturer at the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań.
Rather than a traditional recital built around familiar works by Bach, Mozart or Brahms, Murawski combines music with spoken commentary, wordplay, humour and audience participation. Inspired by the American speaking concert format, the performance explores how a classical instrument can hold an audience’s attention through both sound and storytelling.
For anyone curious about classical music but less drawn to formal concert conventions, the format offers a more relaxed way to experience a live performance.
A second-hand book sale for autumn reading
The library’s main foyer will host a used-book sale over two days:
Friday, 16 October: 14:00 - 20:00
Saturday, 17 October: 10:00 - 17:00
At Plac Wolności 19, the sale offers an opportunity to browse pre-owned books and find something new to read as the evenings grow longer. It is also a simple way to support the circulation of books and give previously read titles another life.
Unlike the ticketed or registration-based events, the sale is an easy stop for anyone exploring central Poznań over the weekend.
Anne Carson and the library’s literary collections
The library is also directing readers towards the work of the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate, Canadian poet Anne Carson, whose writing is available to explore in its reading room at Plac Wolności.
Known for her experimental approach to poetry, classical literature and translation, Carson offers a different reading experience from the narrative fiction featured elsewhere in October’s programme. Her work may appeal to readers interested in the boundaries between poetry, essay and storytelling.
The library’s reading room provides an opportunity to discover her writing as part of a broader exploration of its literary collections.
A cultural stop in central Poznań
For English-speaking residents, the Kawaguchi event is a particular highlight, while the viola performance and second-hand book sale offer accessible alternatives for those looking to explore Poznań’s cultural life. Most event information and registration arrangements are provided in Polish, so it is worth checking the library’s website before attending.
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