The history of our library
Photo: FSZEK
I. 1929-1969
On 13th November 1926 dr. László Bánóczi social democratic councillor proposed the establishing of a new library for the district to the Library Council. Two years later, in October 1928 the premises of 39 Kolozsvári road 10th District was appointed to this new library.
In the Metropolitan Library Yearbook we can read about 1928: “the furnishing of the Kolozsvári road premises has been finished, the opening of the new library is going to happen in the next year”.On 1st May 1929, Branch Library 12 opened with 3000-5000 books on 18,5 m2, with 21 hrs weekly opening hours. The first head of the Kőbánya Library was Károly Romhányi.
The book stock increased by 400-450 books every year. In 1934, the library had 422 members. At this time, stock was at 6397 books.
By 1944, the library had 1039 members, who borrowed 74.278 books according to the statistics of 1943. A large part of members (215 people) was public servants, but private officers, industrialists, tradesmen, hired laborers, teachers and high school students visited the library, as well.
In September 1944, the branch on 1-3 Harmat street was destroyed in a bombing. At this time Istvánné Sárosi (Scheilling) was the head of the library.
After the war, she offered up a part of her family home on 6 Zalka Máté square. The furnishing works began in May 1946. 746 books have been placed here from the old stock. The new library opened its gates on 17th June 1947.
Istvánné Sárosi, nee Anna Horváth, has spent 43 years here and as a colleague of Ervin Szabó, until her passing in 1960.
By the end of 1947, the book stock reached 3229 books.
In 1949, the reader-movement started up, its general goal being the broad propaganda for books and libraries. The era of book group meetings has begun.
In 1950, with the establishment of Nagy-Budapest, district councils were formed. The control of the branch libraries was taken over by them from the central control. This is the first time the historical reports of libraries mention exhibitions and open-air events (e.g. library tent in Tchaikovsky park).
In 1954, the Library Council was formed by members of party committees, teachers, house wives, engineering intellectuals etc. - the active members of the library. Their task was to represent the readers in the improvements of book stock, help the librarians in organizing book-introductions and exhibitions.
From 1951 on, the district council appointed Jenőné Somlai as head of the library. With her lead, the library moved to its third home, to 3 Kőrösi Csoma road in the summer of 1956. The number of members reached 2427 people. The stock had 21.062 books.In 1957, there was another move, this time to 13 Füzér street, staying until 1975.
The head was Tiborné Szőke, starting from 1st September 1957, then she was replaced by Béláné Csernák in November 1958.
In 1962, the free-shelf system was introduced. Out of the 205 m2 only 25 m2 were spared for the closed storage of extra copies.
The new system expanded the roles of the library equipment, including the catalogs and special catalogs. After this, the reference service has become more active and higher quality.
At the end of the decade, there were 5.509 members and 54.248 books.
Photo: FSZEK
II. 1970-1989
With the 70s, the library stepped into a new era, starting with a move and the replacement of the head librarian. The new head was Andrásné Bacsa, her substitute was Pálné Lakatos (1970-75), then Miklósné Tverdota (1975-79).
In 1970, a separate children’s library was created with the lead of Gyuláné Bóta. The library already had two composite branch libraries on 68 Gergely street and 7-9 Keresztúri road.
In 1971, a plan was suggested for a modern library merged with a community center, then on 4th April 1973 - reported by the newspapers of that time - the foundation-stone was lain.
In 1973, the Young Readers’ Club had been organized by Ilona Jakubecz. Its goal was to establish a better and more intensive relationship with the younger generation.
In 1975, the library moved to its current residence in the newly-built community center on István Pataky square. The opening ceremony took place on 17th December 1975.
The staff had 33 people, among them 19 were librarians. The first floor had a musical section, which welcomed anyone interested until the 1997-98 renovation. In the meantime, the library continuously held various events.
By the end of the decade, we amassed 10.676 members. The largest part of them - 34.1% - were the working class. The stock held 121.020 documents. The musical section had 3083 audio records, 344 audio tapes and cassettes.
In 1977, Gallery 12 was opened, the predecessor of the current art gallery. The first exhibitors were László Sánta and József M. Kiss graphic designers. 2700 pcs of copied graphics were gifted from the doubles found amongst the legal deposits of National Széchényi Library (OSZK).
In the 80s the stock was continuously growing, almost to 150.000 documents. There were still art, literature and music events and programs. The staff grew to almost 50 members, there were three shifts in the library with the lead of team supervisors. The library got its first computer, a Commodore +4. This introduced the borrowing of computer games, first on cassettes then floppy disks.
Photo: FSZEK
III. 1990-2002
The social changes of 1989-90 effected the library. The staff was slowly decreasing, but the tasks of the librarians began increasing.
In 1994, video and CD-borrowing was introduced.
In 1995, after Miklósné Tverdota’s retirement, Györgyi Kovács became the head librarian.
In 1996, CD-ROMs were available.
In 1997-98, the library was renovated. The children’s and musical sections were massively decreased in size.
In the autumn of 1998, thanks to the Soros Foundation, five computers had Internet access. The first website of the library was created.
Since September 2001, the computerized borrowing has been introduced with the integrated system of TextLib, developed by InfoKer.
In the summer of 2002, Informatics Governmental Commission (IKB) gave the library 10 new computers, ensuring free internet access to our members.
On 16th October 2002, during the annual Librarian Days, our head librarian, Györgyi Kovács, received the Pro Bibliotheca Award.
In September 2002, we got in contact with the British Council. The GatewayUK Informational Point opened on 14th November. The ceremony was attended by Nigel J. Thorpe, the English Ambassador in Hungary, Gábor Demszky, the lord mayor of Budapest, and dr. Péter Fodor, the Head Director of Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library.
Used sources
Ferenc Bíró - Béláné Csernák - Miklósné Tverdota: 50-year history of Library 12. = MESZL Yearbook, XIX., 1979-1980. Bp. : MESZL, 1983. p. 66-82. Istvánné Kelecsényi: New conditions, new tasks : the more important questions of reference service in Kőbányai Library. = MESZL Yearbook, XVIII., 1977-1978. Bp. : MESZL, 1981. p. 140-155. Gábor Szerényi: Library in Pataky. = Kőbánya. 1977. december. p. 10.
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 5400 / 12 months
HUF 4100 / 6 months
HUF 3000 / 3 months
Establishment of membership for using all branches simultaneously:
HUF 10000 / 12 months
HUF 7700 / 6 months
Discounts
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