The Music Collection of the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library is an institution providing information resources for individual, education and research purposes, complemented with community and cultural events. The constantly expanded borrowable collection includes music books, scores and media (AV documents - CDs, DVDs, videotapes and vinyl records) from a wide variety of eras, geographical range and genres. The Music Collection also offers concerts – with a special focus on young talents –, master courses, book presentations, exhibitions and panel discussions for the public.
The Music Collection is located in the main building of the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library, on the 8th floor of the Central Library. We welcome you to cozy spaces (places), great services are provided.
1. Room of music books
» RECEPTION AREA
It is good to browse books and journals or talk with friends and acquaintances in the comfortable armchairs.
» COMMUNITY SPACE
Venue of interactive music programs and library hours, music conversations suitable to peculiarities of age-groups; individual or group learning.
» CHILDREN'S CORNER
Cosy "island" with music related children's books.
» CIRCULATION DESK
» MUSIC RELATED SPECIALIST BOOKS, JOURNALS, REFERENCE LIBRARY
Nearly 20 000 music related books are available for onsite use or to borrow; the pieces of this collection can be read not only in Hungarian but in some foreign languages (such as English, German or French). Current issues of Hungarian and foreign music journals and the bound volumes of Muzsika, Magyar Zene, Parlando periodicals as well as encyclopedias are available for onsite use. Encyclopedias and repertories of works are available to acquire information.
» DIENES COLLECTION OF DANCE HISTORY
The book legacy of dance historian, artist of orchestics and critic Dr. Gedeon Dienes can be used only in the library (onsite use).
» CATALOG COMPUTERS
To search in library holdings, to send stock requests
» EXHIBITION
Selection of rare and exciting pieces of our collection; history of sound recording
2. Room of music CDs and DVDs and scores available on open shelves (from the direction of the Room of music books)
» CIRCULATION DESK
1. Room of music books
» RECEPTION AREA
It is good to browse books and journals or talk with friends and acquaintances in the comfortable armchairs.
» COMMUNITY SPACE
Venue of interactive music programs and library hours, music conversations suitable to peculiarities of age-groups; individual or group learning.
» CHILDREN'S CORNER
Cosy "island" with music related children's books.
» CIRCULATION DESK
- borrow, renew and return music books
- return scores, CDs and DVDs
- information services
» MUSIC RELATED SPECIALIST BOOKS, JOURNALS, REFERENCE LIBRARY
Nearly 20 000 music related books are available for onsite use or to borrow; the pieces of this collection can be read not only in Hungarian but in some foreign languages (such as English, German or French). Current issues of Hungarian and foreign music journals and the bound volumes of Muzsika, Magyar Zene, Parlando periodicals as well as encyclopedias are available for onsite use. Encyclopedias and repertories of works are available to acquire information.
» DIENES COLLECTION OF DANCE HISTORY
The book legacy of dance historian, artist of orchestics and critic Dr. Gedeon Dienes can be used only in the library (onsite use).
» CATALOG COMPUTERS
To search in library holdings, to send stock requests
» EXHIBITION
Selection of rare and exciting pieces of our collection; history of sound recording
2. Room of music CDs and DVDs and scores available on open shelves (from the direction of the Room of music books)
» CIRCULATION DESK
- borrow, renew and return scores that are available on open shelves
- borrow, renew and return CDs and DVDs
- borrow, renew and return documents on stocks
- information services
» MUSIC SPACE
Venue to create, to be engrossed and inspired; the place where nobody disturbs you; it can be visited in pair or alone.
- databases and search on the internet
- use of open-source softwares related to score editing, video cutting, picture and text editing;
- YouTube lists to play: Musescore, Audacity, Kdenlive, Inkscape, Scribus, GIMP, Blender. assistance is available in email: bandoli@fszek.hu
- listening to music (you can choose from the collection of nearly 20 000 CDs and LPs)
- music films, opera DVDs or any other DVDs of the Central Library can be watched
Musical scores, schools of musical instruments, technical exercises, song collections, orchestral parts and pieces; scores of folk music, film music, jazz and operettas.
» CDs THAT ARE AVAILABLE ON OPEN SHELVES
Besides classical, jazz and pop, CDs in the fields of folk music, film music and world music can also be listened to and borrowed.
» DVDs THAT ARE AVAILABLE ON OPEN SHELVES
Music films are borrowable, opera DVDs are available by onsite use
» LPs
Selection of records - onsite listening
3. Stock requests
Stock requests for documents (scores, books, CDs and DVDs, LPs, bound journals) can be placed via the computer catalogue. When the last 8 digits of the barcode on your library card appear on the central display at the central loan desk (ground floor), requested documents are available in the Room of music CDs and DVDs as well as scores which are available on open shelves.
Please return ALL documents borrowed from the Music Collection to the Room of music books.
The Music Collection of the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library was opened in May 1964 based on the famous motto by composer and music educator Zoltán Kodály: ‘Music should belong to everyone’. Kodály was also present at the opening of the collection in the downtown (Fehérhajó utca). The opening speech was held by Kodály’s pupil, composer and musicologist Lajos Bárdos.
The Music Collection was founded by Ágnes Szalai as the fourth music collection in the country. Its predecessors were the music libraries of the Béla Bartók Conservatory (1851), the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music (1875) and the National Széchényi Library (1929).
After 32 years, the Music Collection moved to the Pálffy palace in the neighbourhood of the library’s main building. From 2018, it is located in the main building itself.
After 32 years, the Music Collection moved to the Pálffy palace in the neighbourhood of the library’s main building. From 2018, it is located in the main building itself.
The collection is presently led by Katalin Bándoli, the holder of an award for the promotion of contemporary music.
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
Online
