1. The document discusses visiting and using libraries in Hungary, noting some differences compared to libraries in the U.S. 2. Hungarian libraries often have guards at the entrance, require membership cards, and enforce strict no food/drink policies. Reading rooms are typically beautiful spaces for studying. 3. Special collections and rare books are increasingly being digitized to improve access, and libraries offer electronic resources and wireless access similar to U.S. libraries. Overall, Hungarian libraries provide resources and services familiar to international visitors while maintaining some traditional practices.

1. Battle of the Reading Rooms

3. Expect closed stacks and electronic book request systems. For more definitions and details see my blog. http://janlw.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/tale-of-two-libraries/

4. Most impressive book transport system we have ever seen! Széchényi National Library

5. Expect to read your materials in a beautiful reading room

7. BUTE has three beautiful reading rooms but often the majority of the students were found at tables in the bridge working with their laptops.

9. Electronic Reference Room at BUTE about 13 cents a page for printing

10. I really felt at home in the library when they brought out a sale book cart. ($1.00)

11. Hungarian Academy of Sciences Library 2 ½ million volumes, some stored off site (in tents?)

12. Loads of librarians doing original cataloging. (I saw five) They use Cyber Dewey and add to the European Catalog The Special Collections Librarian whispers Hey, they’ve got Science Direct from EBSCO !

13. Besides a beautiful dark wood reading room the library has a beautiful auditorium Two art galleries A special Near East (Oriental ) collection.

14. The National Széchényi Library Itsa Matte asked our Modern Language department librarian to write and ask for a special tour which we got.

15. Located in the castle district of Budapest

16. Anyone can come in and read books. (Darlene Rickett did.) A special room devoted to library science There are lots of school tours

17. Like our Library of Congress mainly a research library

18. Demonstrating a fancy microfilm reader for us A room with a card catalog and online databases

19. A special room devoted to the library science collection Notice they don’t turn on any lights

20. There are lots of school tours. They had puppets and costumes to teach Hungarian history.

21. The best part was the view from their private balcony!

22. View to Gellert Hill and the liberation monument

23. View down to the street

24. The Fovarosi Szabo Ervin Konyvtar main branch of the public library is a neo–baroque palace .

25. The mission statement or purpose of the Library would work for a public library here. Fovarosi Szabo Ervin Konytar Homepage is typical of any vibrant public library as is it’s purpose . “ Erin Szabo -from a middle–class family which had got poor”

26. Like the National Academy of Science they use(Cutter? )Dewey call #s Can you see the corvina?

27. Use of the premise is FREE but book check-out & internet use is not Charge is $21 for membership to Szabo and $35.00 to join the main library and the branches.

28. The amazing thing about this public library was that the have kept the neo-baroque ballrooms and turned them into reading rooms

30. When we were there students were studying everywhere!

31. The library that seemed most like home Central European University 3000 card carrying members (No card no entrance) Homepage http://www.library.ceu.hu/ It felt like home sort of….

32. In spite of two sets of guards and the mandatory coat check (Please don’t take away my backpack!) “ Food, drink and smoking prohibited” but there is an espresso cart with snacks just out the library door

33. I met and interviewed the librarian The librarians are Hungarian but all classes are in English Mainly an international graduate school Two required instruction sessions: Library orientation/ specific databases

34. 150,000 volumes and rapidly growing about 8000 per year Catalog: Dewey Decimal for most books; international law collection uses LC. AV collection (videos/dvds) even some fun ones Periodicals databases and e-books – lots! More open stacks than closed stacks!

35. They called this a reading room but it looked like a library to me.

36. Although cloak rooms, door guards and NO FOOD OR DRINK seems archaic Hungarian libraries are headed into the virtual word.