C. Csapodi, E. Moravek et al.(szerk.): The Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1826–1961.

I. The History and Tasks of the Library of the Academy of Sciences

The main task of the Library, as it set out on the path of Socialist development, was to support the scientific research work carried on hy the Academy. In detail: (1) It supplies Hungarian scientific research (more exactly: that carried on hy the Academy) with Hungarian and foreign documentation (books, periodicals, manuscripts, microfilms and reference services.) (2) Through regular exchange schemes, it sends Hungarian special literature, particularly the publications of the Academy, to foreign scientific institutions and research workers; moreover it acquires the necessary scientific material from abroad. (3) It renders the institutional libraries affiliated to the Academy's network different services and gives them professional assistance. (4) It takes part in the nation-wide inter-library work aimed at developing the Hungarian Socialist library system. (5) It engages in activity in the fields of library science and other specialized branches of knowledge. In compliance with the new tasks, the scope of the Library has been established as follows. It collects (1) the literature of marxism-leninism; (2) the publications of foreign academies of sciences and the literature relating to their activities; (3) special works on policies for science and on the organization and planning of scientific research; (4) standard works on the social and natural sciences, general, bibliographical, and reference works, furthermore, works of fiction by the classics and prominent representatives of world literature. (5) As a scientific special library, it acquires on a nation-wide scale the literature on the following subjects: ancient history classical philology history of world literature Oriental literature linguistics. 13