AZ ORSZÁGOS SZÉCHÉNYI KÖNYVTÁR ÉVKÖNYVE 1984-1985. Budapest (1992)

I. Az OSZK 1984-1985-ben - Somkuti Gabriella: Az Országos Széchényi Könyvtár működése 1984-1985-ben - The Activity of the National Széchényi Library in the Years 1984-1985

We have supplied data from Hungary for many international bibliographic enterprises (R1SM, IBHB). Negotiations began concerning our joining the computer program of the international theatre bibliography. We intend to process the source material concerning the Hungarian National Theatre first. Readers

' and reference service The restriction of readers' service introduced in 1981 was valid till December 22, 1984. During this time, the Library was open only to research workers. Thus, the number of readers decreased considerably. In 1984 there were only 1,931 registered readers and 660 persons with a daily ticket. The number of readers' visits was 21,600 and 290 thousand library units were used. The new National Library opened to the readers on April 9, 1985. On the seventh storey of the building there is a large reading space with a general and a special (history, literature) reading room and separate reference, periodical and microfilm reading rooms. Each special collection has its separate reading room on the sixth and fifth stories. The reference library with free access comprises about 70 thousand volumes. There are no rcstriclions in registration any more: all Hungarian citizens over 18 years of age arc entitled to use the Library and foreign citizens can register with their passports. Restrictions of using the holdings refer only to original copies of newspapers and unique copies of documents of museal value. 13,800 readers registered in 1985, the number of uses was 32 thousand. Nearly half million library units were used but this number does not include the use of the volumes of the reference library. Responses to inquiries were written on 525 occasions in 1984 and 846 in 1985. Exhibitions. Public relations. Historical libraries Public relations that had been stagnant for many years rapidly developed in the new premises of the National Library. An enormous interest in the new home of the Library became manifest. In the period from April to December, 434 Hungarian and 47 foreign groups of visitors came to sec the Library. Similarly, tourists, too, arc interested in coming sightseeing for in the neighbourhood of the Libraiy there are a number of museums. By the end of the year library shows with lectures became regular. The above mentioned opening exhibition "Collectors and patrons" was followed by the exhibition "Illustrated Italian scientific books in the 15th-19th centuries" on the occasion of Italian cultural days in June 1985. The exhibition "Codices in medieval Hungary" presented the records of early Hungarian written literature. It was opened on November 12 in honour of the European Cultural Forum held in Budapest. It was in 1882 when a similar representative presentation of our medieval cultural heritage took place for the last lime. In 1985 beside several Hungarian secular and church collections 19 foreign libraries lent us their medieval documents of Hungarian origin. The greatest number was lent by the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek in Vienna and twelve other Austrian institutions. We received materials also from the Federative German Republic (München, Wolfcnbüttcl), Poland (Cracow, Torun), Czechoslovakia (Prague, Olomouc). The National Széchényi Library would like lo express its sincere gratitude to the lending libraries. Regrettably Slovakia, Rumania and Yugoslavia refused lo fulfil our requests for lending their Hungarian materials. A catalogue of the exhibition contains the description of each exhibited item accompanied by lour studies on the given topics. Fourteen representatives of the lending foreign libraries were present. Since the Library, was in the focus of public interest in 1985, our contacls wilh the Radio, TV and different press organs became more close. We consider the up-to-date orientation of the mass media an important part of our activity. The Széchényi Library is in charge of two provincial historical libraries. The library of the former Cistercian Abbey in Zirc has more than 80 thousand visitors each year. In Gyöngyös, the medieval library of the Franciscan order receive 5-6 thousand visitors yearly. The reconstruction of the former Franciscan monastery was accomplished in 1984. It gives home also to the municipal library. At present, the transfer of the management of the Historical Library to the Municipal Library is in progress. However, the ownership of the Historical Library will be retained by the Széchényi Library. Conservation. Reprography In the Library's book binding workshop and in external binderies 21 thousand items were bound in 1984-85. 1,500 ilems of the special collections were restored by individual restoration. The so-called Corvina program aiming at the restoration of some damaged Corvina codices was continued. This work, in its present stage, consists of experimenting, preparations and summing up the experiences gained by visits abroad. 97