AZ ORSZÁGOS SZÉCHÉNYI KÖNYVTÁR ÉVKÖNYVE 1958. Budapest (1959)

II. A könyvtári munka módszertani kérdéseiről - Gombocz István: Központi csereszolgálatok

Edition of the Unesco Handbook, the second — some time later — resulted in a General Register. This file arranges all the Hungarian exchanging institutions in an alphabetical order, listing their publications at the same time. The addresses of the foreign exchange partners are likewise registered. The register serves as a basic tool for exchange possibilities abroad. Improvements in this register are envisaged. 2. The carrying out of the exchanges under the cultural agreements between socialist countries constitute one of the main functions of the Service. About 12,000 books and 1,500 periodicals are sent and received annually. The incoming material is distributed according to subject among the chief Hungarian libraries. The National Library itself, for instance, covers the bulk of its needs from socialist countries through these agreements and is thus enabled to eliminate ordinary trade channels. 3. The transmitting service is not at present highly developed. Cases from abroad are received and their contents (abt. 4,000 packages) distributed among Hungarian addressees at regular intervals. The transmitting of packages to foreign countries is only undertaken to a limited extent, institutions are requested to mail directly. Practical assistance and advice, however, are often rendered in connection with customs clearance, forwarding of packages, packing, etc. 4. The exchange of duplicates was organized in 1955. Large quantities of older material are available in the Library's Distribution Service. Classified lists are issued every two months and sent abroad to exchange centres. Because of the lack of similar services in numerous countries only 3,000 books were hitherto sent abroad. The material, selected from similar lists received from abroad and distributed among 30 Hungarian libraries, consisted mainly of single issues of periodicals (abt. 9,000 items) that were lacking from the holdings of the applicants. 5. Official publications are regularly exchanged, but so far only to a limited extent. The incoming foreign material, in its bulk, is passed on to the Library of Parliament. 6. The National Library's own exchange is also operated by the Service. Works defined as "hungarica" and publications on library science are collected through exchanges with 250 institutions in 50 countries. In this way the Library obtained not much less material than through the ordinary trade channels. At the beginning of 1959 an inquiry was sent out to the Hungarian libraries, asking opinions about services rendered. Almost 100 per cent of the interrogated parties declared the existence of a Centre as necessary and found its services useful. In 1958 altogether 160,000 items were handled by a staff of nine. Considering the fact that the same staff is also responsible for the general foreign correspondence of the Library, the need for an increase in this staff is keenly felt. IV. Foreign Exchange Centres. . : .. , ....... This last chapter is a brieFoutline on foreign exchange centres in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, German Democratic Republic, the Netherlands, Poland, Roumania, USA, USSR. 226