Domsa Károlyné, Fekete Gézáné, Kovács Mária (szerk.): Gondolatok a könyvtárban / Thoughts in the Library (A MTAK közleményei 30. Budapest, 1992)

KÖNYVTÁR ÉS HAGYOMÁNY – LIBRARY AND TRADITION

The Main Library-Science Information Centre in Prague met, however, with resistance. There were intentions to expand the Society's activities in Bohemia, so that it could fulfil the functions of a Czech academy. This intention wasn't realized at the end, similarly to other projects, because of the Emperor's refusal. In 1888 the Czech architect and generous sponsor of science and arts, Josef Hlavka, donated 200,000 thalers for the foundation of a new Czech academy. In the same year the Royal Bohemian Assembly decided to found the academy and ensure a regular support for it. But it took two more years before the law on the "Franz Joseph's Czech Academy of Sciences, Literature and Arts" foundation was accepted, due to growing stress upon the adequate position of the Czech nation to be recognized. On December 5, 1890, the foundation paper was published and the articles were accepted at the same time. Nevertheless, the Academy as an institution with scientific departments and laboratories, as it had been suggested by Purkyne, was not carried through so far. Therefore a committee for the study of scientific problems and their solution was founded, which helped substantially to create better publishing conditions for Czech scientists. An intention to found its own library sprang up practically immediately after the Academy's foundation. The resolution of the Academy's Executive Committee of January 10 1891 gave evidence of it, addressing "the classes to specificate those books, reviews and journals, that should have been acquired for the Academy Library". Two years later the Library approved that the Academy exchange its publications with 55 institutions. Provisional rules for the Czech Academy Library, which were assumed by the plenary assembly held on March 4, originated in the same year. A problem lasting for many years, was the location of the Library. This was naturally reflected in the insufficient use of stocks. In 1910 the Library was said, for example, to keep "precious, but very badly arranged, and thus non-accessible materials". The declaration of such an imperfect situation in the Library did not, nevertheless, lead to any improvement of its state, as for this even a proper conception was lacking. The foundation of the independent Czechoslovak state meant a significant support-' of its position for the Academy and a growth of financial subventions, given by the state and by private funds as well. But all these sources weren't enough for the fundamental development of science according to the intentions of the late Purkyne's suggestions. The situation of the Academy Library started to change during the first post-war years. In its articles, the Library was designated to create a substantial part of science development. A re-organization, then lasting for several years afterwards, was started at the beginning of the 20s. Important expansion of international exchange, mainly with French, English and Russian institutions occurred in the „ Gondolatok a könyvtárban " 107