50. évfolyam, 2004. 4. szám		 Archívum

Hungarian

Habent fata sua libelli et bibliothecarii
The life and librarianship of Farkas Gyalui

POGÁNYNÉ RÓZSA Gabriella

 

Könyvtári Figyelő (Library Review), vol. 14. (50.) 2004. no. 4. pp. 763 – 793.

The study deals with the career path of Farkas Gyalui, with special attention to his most important theoretical works (About the public libraries in foreign countries; Objectives and tasks of library sciences in Hungary). The article also presents the Transylvanian Museum Society and the Franz Joseph University in Cluj that played a leading role in the intellectual life of Transylvania and had a decisive influence on Gyalui’s career as well. All his life, Farkas Gyalui (1866 – 1952) was struggling to find the right field for professional fulfilment: literature or librarianship. He started his career as a journalist and worked for journals in Cluj and in Budapest, but he eventually swapped his ambitions in journalism for library sciences. He directed the Cluj University Library and the library of the Transylvanian Museum Society. From 1901, he was appointed as a visiting professor at Cluj University. He was awarded a state grant to visit the most famous libraries in Europe and he summarised his experiences in several books and articles. His undeniable merit is that he introduced library studies into university education. He was the first to draft a university course in librarianship.

Besides his courses in bibliographical studies, he also held lectures on the history of books and printing.

His views were influenced by Martin Schrettinger who saw library sciences as a practical, service-oriented discipline. Gyalui also divided library sciences into several fields: library studies (library buildings and equipment, display of collections, management and preservation of books); theoretical, historical subjects (printing, history of books, bibliographical studies); and research on reading (that would correspond to the sociology of reading in our days). He recognised the importance of training in librarianship and the professional journals. He considered the knowledge of foreign languages as an essential condition to library practice.

Despite the deceptions that Gyalui encountered in his life, his career path shows a remarkable example of professional dedication and commitment.

 

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