How to Use the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library in 2025
The Human Resources Committee of the General Assembly of Budapest approved the Terms of Use at its meeting on December 16, 2024. Therefore, starting from January 1, 2025, several points will be amended.
The full text of the Terms of Use is available by clicking here.
Summary of Key Changes to the Terms of Use:
Some of our fees have been adjusted based on the rate of inflation and the usage of certain services.
The price of membership, which grants access to all 48 MESZL branch libraries simultaneously, remains unchanged at HUF 10,000 per year. (This amount is approximately equivalent to the price of 1.5 books.)
Membership Fees (Effective January 1, 2025):
| in the Central Library | HUF 8.100 / 12 months HUF 5.600 / 6 months HUF 4.100 / 3 months |
| in the branches belonging to categories I and II | HUF 5.600 / 12 months HUF 4.300 / 6 months HUF 3.100 / 3 months |
| in the branches belonging to category III | HUF 3.200 / 12 months HUF 2.300 / 6 months HUF 1.700 / 3 months |
The administration fee for the registration library card remains unchanged at HUF 400 per year.
The enrollment discounts have been updated in accordance with legal regulations. Starting January 1, 2025, individuals under the age of 25 will be exempt from paying the enrollment and administration fees.
In line with agreements concluded with the district municipalities, we are expanding the range of beneficiaries eligible for discounts. Additionally, the scope of health-impaired individuals eligible for exemption from the enrollment fee now includes people with intellectual disabilities and autism. All other standard discounts remain unchanged.
Starting January 1, 2025, CDs and DVDs can be borrowed free of charge. The late fee will not increase.
Based on a reader's suggestion, we are introducing more flexible membership renewal options. From now on, membership can be renewed within 28 days before its expiration, with the renewal taking effect from the date of expiration.
We have expanded the services available through online registration. You can now register online for:
- Access to the online databases subscribed to by the Library
- Access to the e-book loan system via the Library’s CloudLibrary platform
- Both services simultaneously (access to both the online databases and the e-book loan system on the Library’s CloudLibrary platform)
The registration period for these services is 30 days.
These changes aim to accommodate users who might need short-term access, such as those looking for reading material for a trip and who might not otherwise visit the library to borrow a traditional book.
Related Fees:
| Online registration to access and use databases | HUF 1.700 / 30 days |
| Online registration for the e-book loan system | HUF 1.700 / 30 days |
| Online registration for both services (database and e-book loan) | HUF 3.000 / 30 days |
The issue of data deletion for deceased readers: Data deletion for a deceased registrant can be requested by presenting the death certificate and settling any outstanding debts.
As a convenience, we have extended the reservation option to include documents available on the library shelves. Documents that are sought by the patron, available for loan, currently on loan, or in the process of being delivered to a branch library, may be reserved by paying a notification and processing fee, either in person at the branch libraries or through the Library’s web-based catalog after logging in. The fees for this service are outlined in the table of charges (see Appendix #7 of the Terms of Use).
As a convenience, we are introducing email notifications for the arrival of documents requested through interlibrary loan.
The interlibrary loan process among MESZL branch libraries has been clarified. Documents not available in the collections of individual branch libraries—except those categorized as 'bestseller books'—can be borrowed for the standard exchange fee.
In order to support local study and work in our libraries, the 'quiet zone' areas introduced as an experiment in 2024 at the Central Library, in response to user demand, have been incorporated into the Terms of Use due to positive feedback. The areas designated as 'quiet zones' in the libraries are intended for focused study, research, and quiet reading. In these areas, loud conversations and the use of mobile phones are prohibited, while the use of headsets and earphones is allowed, provided it does not disturb others.
Individual tourist tickets for the Wenckheim Palace can be purchased for groups of 1-9 people. The tourist ticket is non-transferable and entitles the holder to a one-time entry on the day of purchase. For groups of 10 or more, only group visits are possible, which must be arranged in advance for a scheduled time, with a library staff member leading the tour.
Photography in the palace rooms of the Central Library: Private, non-disruptive photography is allowed only in compliance with GDPR regulations and copyright laws, using non-professional equipment. In all other cases, prior authorization for photography/filming from the director-general is required.
We wish a Happy New Year to all our users and look forward to welcoming you back in 2025!
Photo: MESZL
Registration for natural and legal persons:
free of charge / 12 months
Administration fee of registration reader card:
HUF 400 / 12 months
Daily card: HUF 1700 / day
Borrowing privileges in one library:
HUF 5600 / 12 months
HUF 4300 / 6 months
HUF 3100 / 3 months
Establishment of membership for using all branches simultaneously:
HUF 10000 / 12 months
HUF 7700 / 6 months
Discounts