AZ ORSZÁGOS SZÉCHÉNYI KÖNYVTÁR ÉVKÖNYVE 1963-1964. Budapest (1966)

IV. Könyvtár- és művelődéstörténeti tanulmányok. - Ferenczy Endréné: Az Országos Széchényi Könyvtár Olvasószolgálatának története 1802—1919 - The history of the National Széchényi Library's Readers Service (1802—1919)

The history oj the National Széchényi Library's Readers Service (1802-1919) L. FERENCZY The formation of the work of the reader's service is only a part in the history of theNational Széchényi Library, however it gives also in itself a true picture of the library's whole life. The development of the reader's service has always been in close connection with the development of the whole institution, and even the founder, Count Ferenc Széchényi set in its aim the preservation of the nation's treasures and its strengthening for the common use. In the early period following the official opening of the collection on 10th December 1803, this use meant first of all the visits of the interested people and not the work of the real researchers. This fact is proved by the two visitors' books dating from 1807 to 1852. The readers were mainly interested in manuscripts and in charters which by means of their data unpublished previously, offered much greater possibilities for research work than printings held in other libraries. At that time the use of the documents had not yet been restricted by law, the first order of this kind was brought by the parliament in 1832/36 which forbade the loan of the library's documents stressing by this the museum character of the national library. In the following years even the service for research readers could not been ensured as the collection which had by that time been moved several times, had to be rescued because of the floods of the Danube in 1838 and it found its final home together with the several other departments of the Museum in the present building of the National Museum which was finished in 1846. The first twenty years in the new building of the national library were devoted to organized library work, to the increased development of the readers' service and to the outgoings supplies regulated also by the orders. Development to a greater extent was, however, frustrated by the period which followed the defeat of the war of independence. Its pressing political conditions were by no means favourable for the library, incorporating the national thought and which slackened only after 1860. The consequences of the oppression were that the necessary funds were not ensured, the fitting out of the rooms rendering possible the constant use and final arrangement was delayed and the statutes of administration ensuring the safety of the collection and the undisturbed work were not issued but till late. Nevertheless the library had been striving to fulfill its task. The book registring the names of the borrowers gives evidence that the collection was used by prominent figures in Hungarian science and literature whose activities in the special literature and fiction are periods of great importance. The year by year increase in the number of research workers proves that in comparison tothe previous years an ever widening cross-section of our society needs the use of the national library. The preliminary condition of the fulfillment of this requirement was to ensure a Readers' Room for 80 persons. The hall was inaugurated in 1866. This date was the beginning of a new period in the history of the readers' service which. up to the breaking out of the First World War in 1914 underwent immense changes. The formation of Budapest as a united capital in 1873 hadas a result not only the increase in the population, which was in connection with the development of industrial capitalism, but also the centralization of the cultural institutions. As a consequence of this the circles both, of the research works in the sciences and that of the persons interested in literature and in science grew even wider. Although the Hungarian library network also began to develop in that time, and in certain respects obstructed the complete fulfillment of the cultural requirements of this circle, the interest towards the national library's specialised collection did not. wane. The Széchényi Library could offer to its readers, besides the hungarica material, manuscripts, charters and, after 1884, the unique collection of the Hungarian periodicals, in addition, to the material of the other scientific, technical and public libraries. This fact resulted in the increase of the readers, which for their benefit necessitated changes in the library's public service. The continuous enrichment of the collection and the increase of the readers and research workers made necessary the re-organization of the library and new internal regulations, breaking with the traditions. During this time university students formed the greater part of the readers, however,, since the turn of the century, as the possibilites for research work improved, the proportion of the scientific researchers increased considerably. According to the remaining documents they