AZ ORSZÁGOS SZÉCHÉNYI KÖNYVTÁR ÉVKÖNYVE 1960. Budapest (1962)
IV. Könyvtár- és művelődéstörténeti tanulmányok - Summaries
The Microfilm Service of the National Széchényi Library B. BABICZKY There have been attempts at the making of microcopies ever since photography had been invented, yet the history of the microfilm began unfolding only in the 20th century, after World War I. Photo-laboratories were set up by large libraries abroad already in the latter third of the 19th century. To satisfy the information needs of researchers, a photoservice was organized by the National Széchényi Library at the beginning of the thirties, when a photocopying apparatus was also operated. The work was carried on in a laboratory common with the National Museum. The negatives of recorded material were begun to be stored already in the forties, but serious efforts to classify and catalogue them were made only as late as in 1950. The microfilming of the Library's stock of documents began in 1951, with the help of a Rekordac microcopying camera equipment donated by Unesco and set up in the premises of the National Technical Library. At that time, too, the Library installed an independent photo-laboratory and microfilm service, with a staff of three. The number of the collaborators increased to four in 1952 and to 6 by the end of 1954. Through budgetary allocation the Library acquired its own microcopying camera (Micro-Jumma) and developing equipment (Kiton 136) in 1959. Within the first five years of its establishment (1951—1956) the stock of micro-images of the Microfilm Service grew to altogether 520,800; it consisted of 3,323 works that wererecorded, mainly manuscripts and early printed works. At that time the Library's Interlibrary Loan service was already able to meet extensive demands from abroad. At the time of the 1956 counter-revolution the stock suffered serious injuries, so that work in 1957 had to be devoted to the replacing of the losses, but from that time on a large-scale growth could be registered in the stock of positive microcopies. In the time between March 1959 and April 1960, as a special assignment, the collaborators of the Microfilm Service performed an important photographing drive: 119,070 large-size catalogue-sheets were photographed and 285,320 enlargements made in standard catalogue-card size. In 1960 the Service was allotted new laboratory space, so that at present the work is proceeding in 11 localities (studio, laboratories for processing and copying, photographreproduction room, black-and-white laboratory, special photo-laboratory, drying and sorting room, storage room for chemicals, 2 rooms where the microfilm reading devicesand the catalogues are located, and where the clerical staff works.) At the time of this report the Service has a staff of seven. The microfilms are stored in reels of 30 metres each, grouped in keeping with the arrangement of the Library's main collections. Within the reels the recorded works, as well as the reels themselves are provided with current numbers. The Library's call-number is photographed onto the film in cases where the Library's own material has been recorded. As of December 31, 1960 the Service's stock of micro-images was composed as follows: manuscripts —1,326 works —278,400 exposures; old and rare printed works —1,217 works — 155,200 exposures; newspapers —215 titles —730,000 exposures; musical compositions — 1,152 works —91,200 exposures; maps —44 works —65 exposures; theatre-history —93works —41,600 exposures; modern material 343 titles —68,000 exposures —altogether 4,390 works— 1,364.256 micro-images (1,605 reels of 30 metres each). Positive microcopies were also made of the majority of the negatives, altogether 1,137 reels. The following catalogues help guide the users of the available stock : 1. an alphabetical catalogue; 2. a classified catalogue; 3. a so-called topographical catalogue, compiled by the origin of the works recorded. From among the Library's manuscripts the most precious pieces were photographed in first line. All the mediaeval Latin codices have already been recorded. From among the ancient and rare books, the collection of old Hungarian books stemming from the 16th century was recorded in first line. As to the Library's holdings of incunabula, only the ones pertaining to Hungary were microfilmed as yet. Efforts to acquire regularly „Hungarica" type material microfilms, available only abroad, are constantly being made; this material is incorporated into the Service's stock. Our collection of microfilmed newspapers is outstanding; the following deserve special mention: Népszava (1868—1944) complete in 216 reels; Budapesti Hírlap—1881 through 1913, this work still needs to be continued. The Service 343
