39. évfolyam, 1993. 4. szám
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Hungarian

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The first treatise on library science is 100 years old: Károly Kudora's legacy.

SOMKUTI Gabriella

In the second half of the 19th century the housekeeping functions of public and private libraries in Hungary were highly influenced by foreign library science literature. Cataloguing practices followed British and German standards. Kudora's work, the first synthesizing treatise on library science, was published in 1893. It was written first of all for inexperienced librarians. About one third of the book traces historical developments, while the rest deals with practical aspects of library operations, using many examples from foreign countries. An interesting feature of the book is that it regards librarianship as a scientific discipline. The volume was sharply criticized in the contemporary press; the learned librarians, among other things, attacked it on account of the lads of original ideas. Today, although outdated in many respects, Kudora's work should be regarded as a treatise of fundamental importance. (pp. 541-544)

Országos Széchényi Könyvtár
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