The history of our library

It’s been over 50 years since the first Branch Library was opened on Csepel. During this time, the 21st District completely transformed: new apartment complexes were built in the architectural style of these times, and it became the most populated district of Budapest. Accompanying this process was the building of Sándor Rideg Community Center, so the district’s first MESZL branch could move in here from a rented family home. This library with its 500 m2 probably mirrored the needs of the designers and not the residents; its options exceeded the borders of Királyerdő.

By the end of the 90s, it became obvious that the location anomaly of the biggest library in Csepel operating in the Sándor Rideg Community Center needed to be remedied: this led to the move into the district center, to a busy, easily accessible place.

There was a plan of opening a 600 m2 library in the city center of Csepel, highlighted in the MESZL Medium-term Developmental Plan, since the biggest Csepel Branch Library was operating at the edge of the district, far from busy intersections or densely populated areas. This greatly limited the range of users and members.

On the negotiations with the district government leaders the direction was outlined. In 2004, the government offered a fitting building in the center of the district, which gave space for the establishment of a new library.
The 589 m2 library was put into the kitchen and canteen of Sándor Karácsony Elementary School, in the center of Ferenc Rákóczi II. and Sétáló streets.