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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]

The article is about the chance of getting acquainted with the best practices of operating the Danish library system in the course of a study visit. During the trip different types of libraries have been visited. It was a good opportunity to gain experiences, to compare them and search analogous features with the Hungarian library systems. Some elements worth following have been identified: high-quality central services with access from anywhere, good adaptation to local features, practically completely free services, and the extreme importance of providing a good infrastructure for educational, cultural and social activities. The differences in social, economic and cultural backgrounds must, however, be always considered, as models cannot be adopted without any changes but should be adjusted to the specific environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Library supply to national minorities belongs to the responsibilities of libraries since the 1970s. The paper describes how related services began and developed, as well as the current system seeking to supply documents to national minorities coordinated by OIK. [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]

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]