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The author of the article, who has worked both as staff and as a senior librarian, as well as a graduate workplace mentor, examines how the dynamics between staff in libraries, with a special focus on workplace cooperation and conflict, evolve in the light of the insights of the increasingly popular theory of generational theory. Do generational conflicts exist among Hungarian librarians? Do those involved perceive any conflicts related to age groups? If so, are they able to separate them from other, personal conflicts? The questionnaire research, supplemented by mini-interviews, sets up three hypotheses: 1. Librarians do not identify workplace conflicts as generational; 2. For older generations, lack of respect and low work ethic are the main sources of conflict; 3. Younger generations believe that the conservative professional attitude, slow work pace and lack of IT skills of older generations generate most of the conflicts. The findings outlined in the course of the problem statement and analysis should be used both in professional work and in tertiary LIS education, since conflicts arising from generational differences can significantly reduce the performance of library staff, which strongly affects the success of the given institution and the satisfaction of library users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Library and Information Science Library is a department of the Hungarian Library Institute (HLI). It was founded in 1949. Its collection covers library and information science, librarianship, the relevant work processes, as well as their history. In the past 20 years the collection was enriched by several gifts and donations, and books from abroad from projectrelated funding. In the mid-2000s, with the foundation of the European Book History Collection, the history of writing, books, printing, press, publishing, book trade, libraries and reading gained a stronger focus in the collection than before. The main goal of the LIS Library is to provide professional information in a variety of ways: to users face to face, by phone and e-mail, editing occasional and regular bibliographies, constructing databases, compiling short trend reports and review studies, SDI, and background materials for decision-making. The staff wishes to transfer current information, tailored to the needs of users. More and more services are provided in the online environment. Information sources rely, among others, on the Library’s own publications: the national special bibliography of the field (MAKSZAB, twice a year, e-publication), the national professional journal Könyvtári Figyelő (Library Review, quarterly, in print and e-format), annual special bibliography of book history (in print and e-format). Currently, these publications can be edited and published almost fully automatically from the HUMANUS database. Users of the LIS Library include practising librarians, students and faculty, researchers, bodies managing Hungarian librarianship, leaders and staff of the national library and HLI. The LIS Library provides information on the libraries of other countries, on developments in the international library scene, as well as on Hungarian librarianship for interested colleagues from abroad. The LIS Library is keen to organize events which attract participants even from the general public (such as presentations of professional books, small exhibitions, museum nights, bibliotherapy classes etc.). In 2020, with the foreseeable modification of the Library Law, the LIS Library will possibly again be listed among the special libraries with national responsibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the period 1977 through 1983, the author worked in the predecessor of the Hungarian Library Institute (in the Centre for Library Science and Methodology) as a researcher in the Reading Research Department. In 2001, she returned to HLI as Head of the Department of Education. In 2005, she applied for the post of the Director of HLI with success. This article is a subjective recollection of the activities of HLI in the period 2006 through 2011. At that time, it was especially important to get acquainted with the professional documents of the EU and to join EU projects. Two projects are discussed in more detail. The PULMAN project aimed at promoting the case of public libraries with a special focus on improving library supply to the disadvantaged and those living in small communities. The CALIMERA project undertook to monitor technical developments and solutions already emerging from IST, and to assess their potential as widely transferable technologies for use by local institutions. In the period reviewed several analyses took place about the career of librarians, their training, the image of librarians in society, as well as about the qualification of librarians and their self-evaluation, based on the international guide compiled by the CERTIDOC project. It was a huge task as well to elaborate the system of education and further training of Hungarian librarians living in the neighbouring countries. From the strategy of library development for 2008 through 2013, and its Portal programme, she highlights the project work assisting reading research (the event called Year of reading for families), as well as support to adult education. She also mentions in short the meeting of the library institutes of Visegrád Countries in 2010, a reunion of the former centres for library science and methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While libraries are operating offline, adapting to local conditions and circumstances, library users can access library services online from anywhere in the world, as libraries themselves have online access to the services of any other library in the world. The library image of Hungarian society is based on rather conservative, old stereotypes. Libraries need to continually justify their existence to society, and this is reinforced by their users being satisfied with the quality and diversity of library services. Librarians are constantly looking for ways of renewal. The challenges faced are as follows: libraries can be central players and platforms for lifelong learning, for developing the digital literacy of the local population and for community building. Public libraries strive to succeed through creative use of grant resources, involvement in national digitization projects, and librarians are seeking new types of competencies. As an experienced public librarian, the author illustrates these aspirations toward expanding services (trainings to improve the IT skills of the population, introduction of a creative spaces, etc.) through practices partly from his own library and partly from its network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries are spaces filled with materials, librarians and users. The internet constitutes another kind of space: defined e.g. as space lacking space. The author first analyses the characteristics of space in general, and overviews the characteristics of library and virtual spaces. In the information society, the former closed space becomes an open and continuously evolving space. Parallel to space the personal feature also becomes relative, because info-communication eliminates spatial constraints, and makes personal presence superfluous. Space can be represented in a variety of ways (e.g. through maps and buildings). There may be social, commercial and intellectual, cultural etc. spaces. Libraries, similar to other spaces carrying cultural symbols, have been established to fulfil a given socio-cultural function: to offer services to all segments of society. The use of library space is regulated by certain rules (e.g. those manifested in signs, classification systems, shelving marks etc.). Conceptual and information systems and rules allow librarians to dominate the library space. New media types create new spaces in libraries. The author shows the roles of librarians in the narrative of information society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jenő Kiss (1933-2003) was responsible for public library supply in Budapest in the period 1980 through 1998 as director-general of the Metropolitan Szabó Ervin Library (FSZEK). The era under his leadership was characterised by reforms, and his innovations have led to fundamental transformation. When he took over the management of FSZEK, he had to cope with severe difficulties in operation, as well as with the tension between the central library's functions as a special library (in the fields of sociology, local history and music) and the partitioned library system in which an approach of popular education was dominating. By demolishing the over-hierarchical organisational structure, by delegating decisions to the level of action he made efforts to develop a new management style based on involving staff members. His reforms were directed at creating a user-centred library. With his staff he has elaborated new functions for the central library, and, to strengthen the operation of the library system, he has designated six libraries to perform central roles (as regional centres). His measures - aiming at a stock adapted to user needs, at the alternative arrangement of library holdings (family library, double-decker library, foundation of the Central Supply Unit KESZ), a brave weeding policy, the operation of community information services, the introduction the fee-based multimedia and specialised services - have all been directed at implementing user services corresponding to a European standard. What he had left as his bequest to his successors included the conceptual development plan of FSZEK, an up-to-date library policy adapted to potentialities, plans for the reconstruction of the central library, and an adaptable model for further developing the member libraries of the metropolitan library system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study follows up the examinations published in Könyvtári Figyelő in 2006. The sociological survey (with a sample of 3674 persons) conducted by the National Széchényi Library and TÁRKI Social Research Centre in autumn 2005 examining the reading habits of the population over 18 years, shows a significant decrease in reading interest in Hungary. The number of adults reading one book per year has decreased from 60 to 40 per cent. Similar trends can be observed in the content and structure of reading interest: the effect of commercialism, pragmatism and Americanisation is evident The tables of the survey conducted by the National Library and TÁRKI SRC in 2005 show the trends of a moderate, but obvious change: between 1964 and 2000 the demand for (especially American) bestsellers was growing continuously, then till 2005 it sank significantly (from 31 to 21 per cent), but the attractiveness of romantic and classical authors (including Hungarians) grew to some extent. Since the television campaign Big Read was conducted in the same year, its effect can not be denied: it may strengthen but not change existing reading attitudes. The questionnaire was looking for correlations between religiousness, reading habits and library use. The overall picture is seemingly static, though dynamic changes have taken place in the background. The extent of freedom has increased, e.g. many ecclesiastical schools began to operate again, and two new ecclesiastical universities were founded in the last fifteen years. The recent data are very similar to the data got two decades before: the answers of the "religious in a special way" category coincide with the country average results, the indecisive group is laggard, while the self-conscious non-religious and the religious categories are the best library users, and the best and fastidious readers. Examining the books recently read it is evident that classical authors are preferred more in general, while the reserved attitude against bestsellers is more significant for religious people. The cultural distance has grown between reader with a maturity exam (in a secondary school) and with a university degree. Two or three decades before the former ones became in all probability good readers, but this happens no more automatically because of today's mass secondary education. Examining the party voting preferences in relation with reading and library use there seems to exist a little advantage at the side of the conservatives. Age and educational differences may hide behind this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article (its first part see in: Könyvtári Figyelő, 2006. no.1., as above) shows -- relying on data of a survey carried out by the National Széchényi Library and the Social Research Centre TÁRKI in autumn 2005 -- how the habits of using libraries have altered in Hungary with the advent of information and communication technologies (ICT). With the help of some matrices, the author outlines the relationship between library membership, services, library visits and using computers and the Internet. The author puts the question: "Are Pierre Bourdieu's theses on cultural capital, and on the incorporated cultural capital -- its accumulation and transmission -- relevant also in 21st century Hungary?" It is clear from data that the problem described in literature as digital divide or digital gap is present also in Hungary. With the accumulation of cultural goods the advantage of people who have access is growing further against those who have not. The reason why this distance is widening is that the privileged group can develop further at a quicker pace than the disadvantaged, consequently the divide gets wider as well. The disadvantages are especially significant in the population of small communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study follows up on the preliminary report published in the Könyvtári Figyelő (Libraries, computers, reading. A quick report on the results of a survey conducted by the National Széchényi Library and TÁRKI Social Research Centre, 2006. no. 1.). In 2005 the Social Research Centre initiated a national questionnaire survey in co-operation with the Reading Research Department of the National Széchényi Library's Library Institute. The sample consisted of 3674 persons. While the report has drawn attention to general trends, this study digs deeper, and describes the trends in the changes of readers' attitudes to library use. Changes have occurred -- as compared with the data gathered in 1964, 1985 and 2000 -- not only in the habits of library use, but in those of acquiring books as well. On the whole, the number of adults reading one book per year has decreased to 40 per cent, and the number of adults lending books from the library has sunk to its third in the last forty years. Nowadays for most people the sources of acquiring books are the family library and bookstores. The proportion of books received as a gift is substantial. As regards gender and age, women and young adults take a leading position. The author examined the alterations of library use from the point of age, qualification, place of living, as well as from the point of the frequency of library visits, and the scope of using different library services. In 1985 44 per cent of adults were library patrons, by today this number has decreased to 12 per cent. The frequency of library visits, too, shows a decreasing trend. The biggest user group is that of young adult learners aged 18 to 29. While the proportion of computer and Internet users has increased, 80 per cent of non-readers are not using computers either. The majority of regular readers are using both computers and the Internet. The growth of cultural advantages and disadvantages does not promote equal chances, rather it leads to a further social divide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author is member of the IFLA Knowledge Management Section Standing Committee. In this article, she presents the main activities of the Knowledge Management Section, as well as emphasizes the importance of topic maps in connection with visualization and the use of Internet. A few personal experiences and ideas are also given related to Norwegian libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the development of socially inclusive library services in the London Borough of Croydon. Croydon Council is committed to ensuring that all citizens are able to take advantage of the library service and for those with particular needs, special provision is made to help them to develop their skills. The range of these services will be reviewed in this paper and examples described the techniques and the impact of social inclusion work within Croydon libraries. The three case studies are delivering library services to pre-school children, black and minority ethnic housebound people and to adults with low literacy levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On autumn 2003, researchers of the Hungarian Library Institute conducted a survey on the marketing environment of libraries in three cities, Eger, Szolnok and Debrecen. The survey included questions on the appreciation of libraries, on the information needs of local citizens, about new library slogans that people would find useful for promotion purposes etc. The researchers intended to develop, on the basis of the outcomes, a survey method that can be adopted and used by other libraries too. 900 people were interviewed that were not members of any library at the time of the survey. The results revealed what kind of picture non-users have of libraries, and their opinions turned out to be useful for new strategies aiming to attract these people to the libraries again. Most interviewees had a positive image of libraries. The most often mentioned features of libraries were 1. the cultured atmosphere of libraries, 2. the helpful attitude of librarians, and 3. the collections and services. However, in many cases, the interviewees were not sure about what kind of services they can expect at libraries. The image of libraries as reflected by the answers of local citizens can help library directors in the planning of their marketing strategy. Libraries should be more actively involved in the life of the local community, and in order to achieve this, they should strive to make the marketing of their services more efficient. The marketing strategies should target both the users and the local decision makers. One of the marketing tips can be to emphasise the availability of the new information and communication tools at public libraries, most often free of charge for users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]