József Fitz, a reformer of the Hungarian library field

M. MÁTRAI Györgyi

Könyvtári Figyelő (Library Review) vol. 16. (52.) 2006. no. 2. pp. 293–298.

The first large-scale modernisation process of the services of the National Széchényi Library was initiated by József Fitz, director general of the library in the 1930s and 1940s. Under his direction, changes were made to both the collection / acquisition activities and the cataloguing / reference services. The special collections were enhanced further. Mimeograph machines were installed for the duplication of catalogue records and the old-fashioned catalogue was replaced by a decimal classification system. Readers’ services were given special attention, rooms for readers and researchers were made more comfortable and standard lending rules were introduced. The program of Fitz was supported by the ministry of culture of the time. His knowledge, professionalism and human qualities were recognised by the staff of the National Library too.