Gáncsné Nagy Erzsébet: Magyar Könyvtárosok Egyesülete Helyismereti Könyvtárosok Szervezetének története, 1994-2002 (2004)
3. The Local Studies Group of the Association of Hungarian Librarians (HKSZ). - 3.8. International co-operation: the Hungarian Local Studies Group and the UK Local Studies Group.
Studies Group journal, Local Studies Librarian. On their side, the British librarians visiting Hungary made good friends of their colleagues. They received a great impression of the variety of town and countryside and the hospitality of the inhabitants and they took home an immense regard for the work being accomplished in Hungarian local studies resource centres. The connection between Erzsébet Gáncs and Elizabeth Melrose In ending this chapter on the international role of the HKSZ we should pay tribute to the personal friendship that developed between Erszébet Gáncs and Elizabeth Melrose, from the time of the first exchange of letters in 1991, and which has now extended to include many other members of both Groups. An important interview with Elizabeth Melrose, former chairman of the UK Local Studies Group and instigator of the Hungarian connection, was written up by Gyula Mándli in 1998. 119 In this she spoke of her professional career and her pride in the co-operation and esteem she had always received from her Hungarian colleagues. She was the treasurer of the UK Local Studies Group when she made the first contact with the Hungarian local studies fraternity. She was vice-chairman for a period and then Chairman of the British Group. Since her term of office as Chairman ended in 2001, she has continued her work as the UK Group representative on CILIP Council. She has been totally committed to the cause of international co-operation, a collaboration of equal partners. Within the Letter of Accord with the Hungarian Group she has always stressed the importance of continuous and mutual learning - certainly not a one-way experience. She has always been aware that British local studies librarians can benefit from exposure to the work achieved by their counterparts in Hungary. Despite the language difference, she has tried to contribute to the Hungarian local studies meetings and to the list-serv and has by example ensured that all the representatives of the UK Group have responded in a similar manner. At the Vác Conference 2002 she spoke with feeling, when addressing Zoltán Ambrus, President of the Association of Hungarian librarians and the assembled members of the Hungarian Group. She said that she was sure that the HKSZ no longer needed the support of the UK Local Studies Group. It could congratulate itself on its ability to count on the dedication and enthusiasm of its own members. She thanked the Group and her Hungarian friends, and especially the HKSZ committee, for the immense privilege she had been given in working with them over the years. '" Ötéves közös munka az LSG (Local Studies Group) és a HKSZ között: interjú Elizabeth Anne Melrose-zal, az angol helyismereti könyvtárosok szervezetének elnökével / Mándli Gyula. In: Könyvtári levelező/lap, 1998. 12. sz. p. 23-27. 78
