AZ ORSZÁGOS SZÉCHÉNYI KÖNYVTÁR ÉVKÖNYVE 1967. Budapest (1969)

II. Az OSZK történetéből - Kovács Ilona: Olvasóközönség és olvasószolgálat a Széchényi Könyvtárban (1920—1944) - Reading public and readers' service in the National Széchényi Library (1920—1944)

In this period the number of readers greatly depended on certain external factors. An independent Reference Service was established, by reorganization of the reading room the space for readers increased, but because of heating and lighting difficulties the reading room could not be open for the public in the afternoons. Although the National Széchényi Library had a collection of museum character, it lent, especially till 1935, a large quantity of material for external use. In the second half of the period the number of lendings was reduced. The numerical change of the reading public was due mainly to the above mentioned reasons. The enrollment books evidence that most of the enrollments date back to the period between 1920—1926. Later on the number of the enrolling readers decreased. The probable explanation is that partly the lending service was restricted, partly reading facilities were provided in the upgrowing special libraries in the capital, thus the majority of the reading public fell away, (engineers, phisicians, etc.) The composition of the reading public was rather heterogeneous. Characteristic is, however, the proportion of the layers. The majority of the readers were students (50 — 60%) and within this layer the number of the art students was overwhelming. A great number of teachers, clerks, lawyers and jurists also visited the library. The proportion of engineers, physicians, artists, theologians is smaller, yet they were also constant users of the bookstock. Besides readers from the middle class members of the upper bourgeosies and manual workers are also to be found, if not in a great number. The greatest demand appeared for literature (60 — 70%) belletristic works were not so very looked for (9 — 10%). From among the branches of learning, works of linguistics and social sciences were read most frequently (20 — 30%). Works of history, theory of literature, theology were also used but to a smaller extent. There was nearly no demand for works of the natural sciences (0,5 — 1%) but those of the applied sciences were comparatively often read. (2-3%). In this period the general pattern of the library was partly one of steady if unspectacular progress in the direction of establishing the library's national character, partly, besides being a scientific library of general acquisitional line, its functions as a special library of social sciences more and more enfolded, as the composition of the reading public and the bookstock used evidence it. The most important task of the library at that time was to promote research work, first of all in the field of humanities. It became reliable basis for the university and highschool education and an important resource for the clerks of public administration. 262