Antecendents 1

-The 90s
-The influence of political, economical and social changes on library circumstances
-Self-government (1992 )
-Analysis of book related profession and library system
-Drafting of Act on Libraries and its acceptance (1997)

Antecendents 2

-In the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library:
-Modification of library structure, establishment of regional system -Computerization
-Appearance of new document-types to lend
-Model of family library
-Public relations

Turning points in the history of the library I.

-1850- plan of foundation of the Ignác Frank Library
-1904 City public library
-1910 Ervin Szabó's public library concept
-1931-library in the Wenckheim Palace
-1950-increase of branch libraries

Turning points in the history of the library II.

-1960-90 changes in management, appearance of open access, new services
-1990-decrease of financial support, cases of necessity
-1995-region establishing, mechanization

Turning points in the history of the library III.

-1997- decision on reconstruction of the Central Library
-2000 - possibility of renewal

Starting point

-Out of date Central Library with limited range of services
-Disintegrated and incidentally located branch library system in the city
-Lack of conditions in the program of professional changes
-Slow rate of development
-Problems in views
-Worries in existence

What happened?

-Investments in the 90s
-1996-building up House of Services (printing house, bindery, stacks)
-1998-reconstruction of the Pálffy Palace, placement of Musical collection, Economic and Technical Management

The Central Library

-1997-decision on the reconstruction and enlargement of the Central Library
-1998-2001 reconstruction work, new library technology, drawing up a new operating system and its continuous correction

The enlargement and reconstruction of the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library 1

1997 Preparation of investment decision under
Jenő Kiss's
general-director

Sándor Deák's
economic directordirection

The enlargement and reconstruction of the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library 2

1997-1998 Drawing up professional program
István Papp
deputy director
Architect: Péter Hegedűs
Interior designers:
Mihály Hefkó, Csaba Jakab
Chief restorer:
Gábor László Nagy

The enlargement and reconstruction of the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library 3

Main contractors:
Magyar Építő Rt
MASZER Rt
Középületépítő Rt
Investor and dispatcher :
Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library

The management of the investment

Péter Fodor
general director
László Sóron
deputy director
Sándor Deák
economic director
István Pauza
chief engineer

Budget of the Central Library reconstruction

investment : 2,4 milliárd Ft.
instruments,furniture,informatics : 600 millió Ft.
VAT : 756 millió Ft. investment altogether: 3,8 milliárd

Concepts of development

-2000-start of structural development (integration of regions and branch libraries)
-2001- fact-finding investigation of conditions in branch libraries
-2002-drawing up strategics
-Reconstruction of branch libraries
-2003- building a new branch library

Points of view

-Change of paradigm
-Change of technology
-Enlargement of services
-Quality services
-Territorial coverage
-Priority

The content and direction of change

-Development and modernization of the organization
-Transformation of the supply system
-Development of informatics
-Enlargement of services
-Rational use of materials
-Efficient employment of human resources

City library supply

-Territorial principle
-Service principle
-Quality principle
-Multifunctional library
-Cultural centre function
-Development of collections
-Efficient staff
-User and reader centred library

Public relations

-Marketing strategy
-Change of image, logo
-Media connections
-PR work
--Forgiving Day
--1 % of tax
--Adoptation

The Central Library I.

Services:
-Lending books, CDs, CD-ROMs, videos, notes,
-Reservation, prolongation
-Inter-library lending
-Reading on the premises, research work
-Reference service, copying, literature researh
-Guidance
-Programs

The Central Library II.

-Departments and services
-Registration, lending, information
-Media collection
-Browsing area
-Legal, business information
-Public utility information service
-British Council Point
-Information on studying
-Storage service

The Central Library III.

-Children's library
-Open access room
-Internet room
-Reading room of literature and grammar
-General reading room
-Reading room of social sciences
-Sociology collection
-Reading room of philosophy
-Reading room of art

The Central Library IV.

-Euro-Atlantic integrated collection
-Gallery of journals and catalogue room
-Budapest Collection
-Musical collection

The Central Library V.

-Café
-Atrium
-Exhibition hall
-1000 seats for readers and researchers
-160 computers for readers
-56 -hour- long opening hours
(from Monday to Friday 10-20,
on Saturday 10-16)

National and international awards of reconstruction work 1

-Budapest Architectural
Prize 2001
Péter Hegedűs architect, chief designer (MATESZ)
-"Figyelő" Architectural Prize
Péter Hegedűs architect, chief designer (MATESZ)
-Pro Architectura 2002
Péter Hegedűs architect, chief designer (MATESZ)

National and international awards of reconstruction work 2

-The Best Interior Designer of 2002
Mihály Hefkó, Csaba Jakab interior designers
-The first prize of FIABCI, Hungary, 2002
-Architectural Prize, 2002
MASZER Rt
general constractor

National and international awards of reconstruction work 3

-PRIX D'EXCELLENCE PRIZE 2003. of FIABCI in public institution category
MASZER Rt
-Europa Nostra Prize 2002

Services of the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library I.

-On the way to a virtual library
-Corvina system
-Databases
-Computer catalogues
-860.000 records
-Internet access in 32 libraries
-On-line access
-Prolongation on the Internet

Services of the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library II.

-3.600.000 documents
-Participation in National Document Supply System
-National reference library

Services of the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library III.

Cultural programs:
-Exhibitions
-Cultural camps
-Performances
-Dialogues
-Writer-reader meetings
-Competitions
-...

Services for the library system

-National Document Supply System
-Hungarian National Shared Cataloguing Association (HUNCAT)
-VOCAL-CORVINA
-Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC)
-WEB site
-Bibliographical records
-Databases

A modern library I.

-Open to new devices, systems of informatics
-Saves values and virtues of a traditional library
-Knowledge centred
-Information centre

A modern library II.

-Virtual library
-Digital library
-Library of services
-Meeting point for public
-Culture transmitting institution

A modern library III.

A renewed professional program
Renewed professional staff
A renewed institutional system
This is the library of future

The Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library
A determinant cultural public institution of Budapest,
meets the requirements of national and international trends
and up-to-date professional specifications