Abstracts

Parallel biographies. Pál Gulyás, Ervin Szabó and the idea of the modern public library

KATSÁNYI Sándor

During the decade before World War I. considerable effort was devoted to the establishment of liberal, modern public librarianship in Hungary. Following English, American and German patterns, the theory of the new type of library was elaborated, a manual of its Organisation was written, its collection profile was defined, and the ferst really modern Hungarian public library was opened in Budapest. There were two prominent librarians behind these efforts: the politically conservative Pál Gulyás, and the socialist Ervin Szabó. Approaching from different directions, both of them reached the idea of a liberal library, free of political control. However, they fought the most bitter struggle in the history of Hungarian libraries over the details. The coming generations assessed them on the basis of their political roles in extreme terms, though they both were the founders of modern librarianship in Hungary. Hungarica material in European libraries results of a survey

KOVÁCS Ilona

The Hungarica Documentation Unit of the National Széchényi Library carried out a survey of the Hungarica material of foreign libraries in 1990 in Order to provide researchers with Information. The list of potential Hungarica collectors in Europe was compiled. The survey covered the nature of the collection, the composition, size, type, etc. of the Hungarica material. The series entitled “Hungarika anyagot orzo külföldi könyvtárak címjegyzéke” (Directory of foreign libraries haueng Hungarica collections) is the result of the survey. It was also possible to get an overview of the Hungarica collections of European libraries. The study summarises the types and characteristics of these collections. There are about half a million Hungarica items in European libraries, however, the number of titles is less, amounting to 200-300 thousand. The British Library, the Humboldt University (Berlin), the University of Göttingen and the French national library haue the four most significant Hungarica collections. These collections may be characterised by long-term collection development policies, and permanent acquisition. Minor collections haue haphazardly selected items. Practical advice is given in Order to improve the collection of Hungarica. Maintaining good relations, carrying on joint projects (e.g. in the field of automation) is important.

Management at university libraries

ZALAINE KOVACS Eva

Effectiveness and efficiency are more and more important for university libraries, too, due to the decrease of financial resources and the transition to market economy. The university library of the future would be an integrated information centre, working as the centre of the university network, supporting learning, research, and teaching. Emphasis shifted to the user and the quality of services. A complex method for the management of change is library management aiming primarily at making services more efficient. The article, a part of the doctoral thesis of the author, gives a detailed account of various marketing techniques, of the nature of “7S”, and the role and methods of TQM (Total Quality Management).

The qualification of librarians

VIDRA SZABÓ Ferenc

The Readers’ Service Unit of the Centre for Library Science and Methodology surveyed the personnel of libraries in January, 1995 to find out what levels of qualification are demanded by libraries, and of what level of staff is there a surplus. The survey used a questionnaire for data gathering supplemented by interviews with the top management of the institutions. Four types of libraries were involved: large special libraries, academic (college and university) libraries, and county libraries. The picture is heterogeneous. The number of college/university graduates is almost too much. Professional staff is applied for jobs that should be performed by medium level staff. The number of those speaking foreign languages is, however, greater than it has been in the former surveys. The structure of the training of librarians, and new requirements in this connection were also dealt with. It turned out that the profession is unable to clearly formulate its needs it terms of the number of librarians demanded in the future. (There is too much uncertainty in every field to be able to give a reliable prognosis in this respect.) Libraries are not interested in supporting further education and training, on the contrary (lack of financial resources for supporting it, loss of working hours, manpower, salary increase after graduation, etc.). More up-to-date knowledge is expected from training in general, and less training institutions would be necessary. Meanwhile more resources (financial and intellectual) should be concentrated in existing training institutions having a good reputation. The Training Unit of the Centre for Library Science and Methodology should carry on its further training programme.

New lending area in the Library of the Budapest Technical University

GÁSPÁRNÉ DEMETER Judit

The new lending area of the Library and Information Centre of the Budapest Technical University has been used for a year. The new circulation area was designed and built as a part of the reconstruction of the building. It meets the ergonomic and functional requirements of computerised circulation with a traditional architectural background. The former lending area also used to be in the lobby, however, it hindered the movement of users, and readers were exposed to long, uncomfortable periods of waiting. The new solution serves as an example for other libraries, too: designers followed the requirements of the protection of the old building, still, they kept the comfort of readers and librarians, the requirements of librarianship and storage in mid as well. The submission of requests is separated from other functions of circulation. A round (convex and concave) lending area could be brought about that does not disturb internal routes, and meets new technical requirements better.

Reply to the Development Unit of the National Széchényi Library

BAKONYI Géza

Antecedents: Bakonyi Géza: Library and/or electronic library? (Könyvtári Figyelo 4 (40) 1994. 4. pp. 522-535.) and Development Unit, National Széchényi Library:….. (Könyvtári Figyeló 5 (41) 1995. 1. pp. 13-19). Debate between the unit responsible for computerised services at the National Széchényi Library and the author. Description of the conversion of HUNMARC – Hungarian data exchange format – illustrated by the example of four libraries. The national data exchange format and the fusion of data elements

System Development Branch, National Széchényi Library

International and national data exchange formats are based on valid bibliographic standards. Each data element qualified in standards, are also qualified in the exchange format. However, the separate, qualified handling of data elements does not prevent libraries participating in data exchange on the basis of HUNMARC from using display formats meeting their demands, including abbreviated display formats, beside the standard bibliographic exchange format. A detailed theoretical and practical example is given to illustrate that data elements should be amalgamated not in the national data exchange format, but in the database management system of libraries requiring fusion.

Kategória: 1995. 2. szám | A közvetlen link.

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