Kiss Jenő könyvtára.

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]