AZ ORSZÁGOS SZÉCHÉNYI KÖNYVTÁR ÉVKÖNYVE 1994-1998. Budapest (2000)

I. Az OSZK 1994-1998-ban - Az Országos Széchényi Könyvtár kiadványai 1994-1998 - The Activity of the National Széchényi Library in the Years 1994-1998

Publication in print of Foreign Periodicals in Hungarian Libraries from the 17th Century was suspended and instead the material conditions for automation were ensured with a grant obtained. In this way, from 1996 it became possible to process retrospectively the inventory of periodicals existing in the National Periodicals Database, to convert the bibliographic records to HUNMARC format and provide an Internet service. By 1998 the inventory of all periodicals figuring in the National Periodicals Database was complete. From 1998 the online search system of the National Periodicals Database has operated on the central computer of the NIIF. Since then, the National Periodicals Database loaded into the BRS/Search database handler appears on a web surface. Information technology development Application of the DOBIS/LIBIS integrated library software introduced in 1992 further expanded in the period concerned, with information technology procedures supporting the processing and acquisitions activities. As a result of the library preparatory and regulation work, from 1995 the collecting scope of the database extended to audio-visual documents and their bibliographic records. The Library of the Centre of Library Science and Methodology also joined the users of DOBIS/LIBIS as an independent user and member library. Digital services based on modern technology appeared from 1994. Firstly, the Hungarian National Bibliography. Books, 1976-1991 ensured the adoption of standard bibliographic data (ISO 2709) in HUNMARC format. The modern bibliographic service in HUNMARC bibliographic data exchange format, appearing periodically on the basis of the Hungarian National Bibliography. Bibliography of Books was launched in 1995 and assists the processing work of numerous Hungarian university, special and public libraries. Work is carried out systematically on language glossaries for information search within the national library. In 1994 the HUNMARC national bibliographic data exchange format appeared in Hungarian and English. An expanded version covering all library document types, and the HUNMARC classification records data exchange format were completed by the end of the cycle. From 1997 preparations began for introduction of AMICUS, the new integrated library program system. Public relations The library has made every effort to maintain relations between the institution and the general public by organizing exhibitions and presenting the library in various ways. Among the exhibitions special mention must be made of one which causes special pleasure to old and new staff members of the National Széchényi Library, Hungarian and foreign librarians and others, namely the permanent exhibition titled The nations library - Workshop of service opened in 1996 as the Hbrarys museum and reviving the 200-year-old past of the library with the help of old furniture, pictures and other documents. In 1996 and 1997 the travelling exhibition The Hungarian National Library Budapest was shown in many countries. In Hungary exhibitions attracting various degrees of public interest were held mainly in conjunction with anniversaries. Many Hungarian and foreign groups with around 34,000-37,000 participants a year, visited the library. The historic library at Zirc near Lake Balaton attracts 34,000-41,000 visitors a year, many of them foreigners. Domestic and international relations Although the worsening economic situation imposed limits on the librarys domestic and foreign relations since these involved costs, it certainly did not mean that they were suspended. There was no change in its decisive role in Hungarian library affairs, it took part in the preparation of legislation, and carried out important activity in the field of standardization as a result of which previously lacking standards were created on the basis of international norms. Work done on the basis of foreign relations 193