<<< | Contents^ 3. Types of libraries The National Széchényi Library http://www.oszk.hu The National Széchényi Library celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2002. Its core mission is to collect, preserve and deliver to users documents that form part of Hungarian cultural heritage. The library has the largest collection of prints and books published before 1711 in the country. Some of the oldest complete texts in the Hungarian language, such as the codices incorporating the Funeral Sermon and Prayer (end of 12th century) and the Old Hungarian Laments of Mary (13th century) are held here, together with 32 “corvinae” from the library of King Matthias. The collection includes other historical treasures, like the ‘Chronica Hungarorum’, the first printed book in Hungary, published in 1473, and a great number of manuscripts of masterpieces of Hungarian literature. In 2005, the library had 46,818 registered users and 213,000 one-day visitors. Approximately 65% of the users are students, and 10% are researchers. The library publishes the Hungarian national bibliography twice a year on CD-ROM, but updates covering the last three months are also available online on the library’s portal. The library uses the AMICUS integrated system. Retrospective cataloguing of card catalogue records started in 2003, and the digitisation of the collection started in the late 1990s, with the first projects focusing on special collections. The Hungarian Library Institute The Hungarian Library Institute – which is the national authority of public libraries – is included within the organisational structure of the National Széchényi Library, but managed by the Library Department of the Ministry of Education and Culture. Its mission is to provide services to assist the efficient operation of the library system. Some of its tasks are: collecting and publishing national library statistics assisting in the setting of standards, guidelines and methods related to library and information services operating a special library of library and information science materials assisting in the collection development of libraries participating in the continuing training of librarians and the training of library assistants The National Library Board The National Library Board was set up in 1999 as a consultative committee overseeing matters related to the functioning and strategic development of the library field. It consists of 9 members who are elected for a four-year period. The Board also observes and gives its opinion on the development and financing of the activities carried out by the National Széchényi Library and the Hungarian Library Institute, according to their charters under the Library Act. The Board reports to the Minister for Education and Culture. Academic libraries The number of Hungarian university and college libraries – state-funded and private – exceeded 200 in 2005. Most operate as “libraries open to all users” and all university libraries are members of the National Document Delivery System. The economic and social changes of the 1990s had a considerable impact on academic libraries. The number of students in higher education has risen dramatically during the last ten years, which has resulted in an unprecedented increase in the use of the collections and services of academic libraries. The development of academic institutions has also been influenced by the process of integration of universities and colleges which started at the end of the 1990s. The merging of institutions brought many challenges for academic libraries at the organisational and operational level, and required a greater degree of resource sharing and cooperation. Academic libraries are increasingly providing online services, including access to licensed electronic journals and databases. Everyday activities for academic librarians now include the search for funding for academic literature, negotiating licensing terms and managing electronic resources. Academic libraries have also gained considerable experience in digitisation. Special libraries Special libraries develop collections in specific scientific areas. They show great variety as far as their supporting authorities, history, collection and user groups are concerned. Among them are the libraries of state-funded research institutes, the Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Hungarian Parliamentary Library, corporate libraries, museum libraries, the medical libraries of state hospitals and the libraries of non-profit institutions. There were more than 370 special libraries in 2005 and over 80 of them have obtained the status of “libraries open to all users”. Nine special libraries collect literature on a national level: these libraries participate in the National Document Delivery System and provide records for the Hungarian National Shared Catalogue. They are also in charge of providing national subject-specific bibliographies, thematic databases, subject-specific reviews, translations and studies. Public libraries All local governments are bound to provide library services to their citizens. County and municipal authorities are obliged by law to operate a public library, while smaller communities can choose to run a library – on their own or in partnership with others – or order library services via the Service System for Rural Areas. All county, municipal and village libraries must be registered as “libraries open to all users” and must respond to the requirements stipulated by the Library Act. There are 20 county libraries, nearly 300 municipal libraries and over 2,500 village libraries in Hungary. Public libraries also have special roles, like the collection of local documents and information, assisting users in finding relevant information sources for everyday life issues, and supporting life-long learning. School libraries There are nearly 4,000 school libraries in Hungary. The conditions of their operation, their collection and their tasks are defined by their respective educational institutions. School libraries provide statistics to and are professionally coordinated by the National Pedagogical Library and Museum. In 1995, the National Curriculum introduced the teaching of library skills as a compulsory subject.
| Selected statistics on Hungarian libraries (2000-2005)
2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005
Number of libraries | 2 975 | 3 025 | 3 485 | 3 615 | 3 584 | 3 588
Number of library service points | 4 360 | 4 712 | 5 090 | 5 386 | 5 190 | 5 077
Area (m2) | 551 060 | 657 169 | 713 540 | 735 248 | 741 429 | 749 372
Collection (items) | 102 345 708 | 105 122 357 | 111 371 771 | 114 510 976 | 114 103 722 | 115 569 203
Number of registered users | 1 866 709 | 1 966 068 | 2 076 784 | 2 211 852 | 2 198 097 | 2 261 097
Number of library visits | 22 177 866 | 26 728 312 | 31 833 406 | 28 923 774 | 28 132 176 | 28 106 461
Number of loans | 12 479 615 | 13 522 280 | 14 316 638 | 14 551 813 | 13 927 757 | 13 678 203
Number of documents lent | 41 361 715 | 41 798 185 | 43 359 337 | 42 482 897 | 39 994 562 | 38 786 784
Number of interlibrary loans | 102 467 | 113 094 | 123 720 | 139 198 | 138 829 | 138 406
^top | >>>
National Széchényi Library, Budapest | Library of Foreign Literature, Budapest
Library of the University of Debrecen | Library of the Rákóczi Ferenc II Secondary Grammar School, Budapest
Town Library, Gödöllő | Town Library, Hőgyész, reading room
<<< | >>>