<<< | Contents^ 7. Professional training Until the end of the 19th century, staff at Hungarian libraries acquired the necessary knowledge and skills through practice. The first training course in Library Sciences was held in 1898, and a number of other training courses in LIS were organised between the two world wars for staff members of the most important libraries and other people with a background in humanities who were seeking career opportunities at libraries. The first academic training programme in Library Sciences was introduced by the university of Budapest in 1948. Initially, the five-year graduate programme had a largely historical focus. Practical skills and the application of IT and computers were gradually included in the programme, and during the following decades, the universities of Debrecen, Szeged and Pécs started degree courses in LIS. In addition to the library departments of the traditionally research-focused universities, a few colleges also started professional training in LIS in the form of 4-year degree courses. This more practical type of training started at the Teacher Training College of Budapest in 1951. Training in Library Sciences gradually expanded to other universities and colleges and more varied systems of study became available, including distance and part-time degree courses. The latest challenge for training in LIS arrived in the form of full European Union membership. In compliance with the Bologna agreement, the Hungarian higher education system underwent an overall restructuring, and the new system came into force in September 2006. As a result of the efforts of library training institutions and representatives of the wider library field during the preparation of related legislation, training in LIS maintained its status a separate major in the 3-year BA programme, and is currently offered at 13 higher educational institutions. Follow-on MA degree programmes are currently being finalised by a smaller number of library departments. It is anticipated that the training will continue to be popular, as students graduating in LIS can find various employment opportunities, not only at libraries and cultural heritage institutions, but also at companies that provide information services. In order to ensure the professional development of librarians and encourage life-long learning, the rules of Act CXL of 1997 set out the structure and financing of the system of continuing education. Continuing training is carried out in a 7-year cycle: library staff are required to attend a minimum of 120 hours of continuing education courses during the 7-year period. Eligible courses must be accredited by the LIS Accreditation Committee, and financing of the compulsory training system is provided by the Ministry of Education and Culture. ^top | >>>
University Library, Kaposvár, interior | Library of the University of Szeged, atrium
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