Zsuzsa Ferge
sociologist and statistician, social policy expert, professor, member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
The „Szabó Ervin”
I do not like facing what I should have spent more time for in my hectic life.
Library is one of my neuralgic points in this regard. I have never had enough time to enjoy library as I felt like doing it.
Most part of time I had (once upon a time), I spent in the reading room of the „Szabó Ervin” (the library); it was the sometime ballroom (dance room) of Wenckheim Palace. The decoration was a little shabby, without function –but wonderful; a half century ago we really did not thought that we would see the saloons of the palace in original magnificence, without readingtables and catalog boxes. I enjoyed rummaging for file-cards, finding known authors and browsing unknown ones. I even liked waiting for requested books and yacking in the hall. It was a great experience to look over and compare
8-10 books simultaneously, to see that I was the first reader of some books, inferred by uncut pages (mainly in case of French editions). It was great that my work could be done in intense tranquility in the reading room. To have a rest, there were some recesses for smoking and exciting documents of Budapest Collection were available. Though we were separated from foreign countries (the West) in several fields, I still could find important periodicals and works published as new editions. Of course, when I had opportunity to go abroad, I faced reality, how many works couldn’t be found at home, in Hungary.
8-10 books simultaneously, to see that I was the first reader of some books, inferred by uncut pages (mainly in case of French editions). It was great that my work could be done in intense tranquility in the reading room. To have a rest, there were some recesses for smoking and exciting documents of Budapest Collection were available. Though we were separated from foreign countries (the West) in several fields, I still could find important periodicals and works published as new editions. Of course, when I had opportunity to go abroad, I faced reality, how many works couldn’t be found at home, in Hungary.
Although the country was much poorer than today, political control was even more severe, still, the library seized all opportunities to hold and preserve the original sociological collection and supplement it in a skilled way, better and better (Do not forget: sociology was a prohibited and non-existing science until the middle 1960s.)The inexhaustible helpfulness by the librarians is among permanent (everlasting) memories. Moreover, it remains memorable that visitors could feel the air of freedom. I think, it is the miracle of books; in a really good library people can always feel that thoughts are free (at least). Unfortunately, the total reconstruction of library building was a little late for me a decade ago. Though I went to admire the new environment, the system of open shelves, new personal services and possibilities of broad access to information available on the Internet, however, I am not a regular visitor.
Still, Ervin Szabó Library is the integrated part of my life through the internet.
It does not mean only the great amount of information available on the library website or the accessibility to Sociology Collection through the web that replaces on-site browsing of catalog file-cards; I have already asked for and received a lot of personal support concerning list of cited authors and more similar lists, ways of searching and the natural history of databases. Maybe, these are traditional library services applied by Ervin Szabó Library in our changing world, considering own conditions.
Social profession, however, is privileged by the library. This new system of professions covers social policy and all forms of social work within social sciences.
To say in brief, contents of social professions are the theory and practice of public responsibility for the individual man and for the conditions that make possible to live together in society.
It had some antecedents, but nothing remained for the ‘60s. At that time, ideological / theoretical development of social policy started slowly and carefully, including sociological analysis of social problems. It turned out soon that we have already known actually: researches should be
continued with supporting (helping) work in practice.
“Big systems“ were developed. However, there was no help to the great number of underprivileged people who were in need of information. To answer to the obtrusive defaults of that system, some brave and sensitive people started working to decrease suffering caused by vacuum. In the world of strictly controlled persons and non-existing institutions, social work came into being by these people.
continued with supporting (helping) work in practice.
“Big systems“ were developed. However, there was no help to the great number of underprivileged people who were in need of information. To answer to the obtrusive defaults of that system, some brave and sensitive people started working to decrease suffering caused by vacuum. In the world of strictly controlled persons and non-existing institutions, social work came into being by these people.
Besides their own humanity and professional knowledge they sought and followed usable foreign models and developed new approach and work-forms. when political suspicions could be allayed. It was very difficult to naturalize the profession even after 1990; though political suspicions couldbe allayed then. To tell the truth, leastwise as I can see, social culture of policy is quite weak even today and social work is threatened by many sorts of pressure in practice; the underlying objective of direct and immediate help in social work is to open hopeless self-surrender of many people towards citizen’s self-awareness and dissolve bolting in individual suffering by the power of community.
The „Szabó Ervin” perceived both the role and importance of social professions within social sciences and the potential it had to strengthen those professions by its facilities. So, Digital Archive of Social Profession was established – due to the initiatives provided by Katalin Talyigás and Gábor Hegyesi, cooperating with all representatives of social profession. Similarly to other digital archives, it makes professional works
more available by digital archives, it makes professional works more available by expanding digitization. Besides it, the archive wants to overstep impersonality by portraits and a colourful gallery of portraits; this is quite important mainly in social work.
In social professions people work with people. Their personality is an important tool in their work, there is no social profession without their knowledge and empathy. They are people of all kinds and all of them contributed to common knowledge and methods. Everyone may be richer by gaining knowledge about them. That is why the Gallery of portraits is available on library website besides showing printed professional works from more viewpoints.
The gallery shows some young representatives of this young profession who died quite early (and often tragically) and left marks in the world.
more available by digital archives, it makes professional works more available by expanding digitization. Besides it, the archive wants to overstep impersonality by portraits and a colourful gallery of portraits; this is quite important mainly in social work.
In social professions people work with people. Their personality is an important tool in their work, there is no social profession without their knowledge and empathy. They are people of all kinds and all of them contributed to common knowledge and methods. Everyone may be richer by gaining knowledge about them. That is why the Gallery of portraits is available on library website besides showing printed professional works from more viewpoints.
The gallery shows some young representatives of this young profession who died quite early (and often tragically) and left marks in the world.
I thank Ervin Szabó Library for accepting the initiative and its expected development. I am happy that it contributed effectively to the improvement of the picture created about social professions, bringing everyday heroes of the profession closer, within human reach, strengthening the social status of the profession and the self-esteem of people working in the (social) profession. I wish the staff of the Sociology Collection that they can continue its scientifically high-level work that is rich in humanity as well.
Information
Beiratkozás
Registration for natural and legal persons:
free of charge / 12 months
Administration fee of registration reader card:
HUF 400 / 12 months
Daily card: HUF 1650 / day
Borrowing privileges in one library:
HUF 7800 / 12 months
HUF 5400 / 6 months
HUF 4000 / 3 months
Establishment of membership for using all branches simultaneously:
HUF 10000 / 12 months
HUF 7700 / 6 months
Discounts
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