Opening Ceremony for the New Library in Soroksár
The Soroksár branch of the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library has undergone renovation and expansion. With the handover of the second phase of this year's most significant cultural investment in the capital, the residents of the district, numbering over 22 thousand inhabitants, now have access to the refurbished library.
The opening ceremony took place on October 4, 2023, at 11 a.m. as part of the National Library Days, featuring speeches by Dr. Anett Bősz, Deputy Mayor of Soroksár; Ferenc Bese, Mayor of Soroksár; and Dr. Péter Fodor, Director General of the MESZL.
Photos from the library opening (gallery)
This year, Budapest is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its unification, and it also marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Sándor Petőfi. The dual anniversary has provided an opportunity for the library, originally opened on October 29, 1973, to continue serving the residents of the district. It is now known as the Petőfi 200 Memorial Library and has been completely renovated and modernized after half a century.
Phase I of the reconstruction, which began in 2022, was completed in April of this year. Since then, the number of readers utilizing the library's services has significantly increased, with more and more people signing up.
With the completion of Phase II, the library now offers a spacious area of more than 400 square meters, featuring a cozy children's corner, a computer station for parents and babies, and a magazine reading area. The spaces are flexible and suitable for hosting larger programs, performances, and exhibitions. Additionally, a separate section has been designated for teenagers, providing a space for collaborative studying. Not only do the library's interiors hold an attractive appeal, but the courtyard has also been transformed into a Reading Park, perfect for enjoying good weather and serving as a podium for outdoor cultural events.
The newly updated collection, comprising more than 10,000 volumes, offers reading materials suitable for all ages. Readers have the option to choose from a selection of 20 weekly and daily newspapers. With a library card, they can also access up to 150 additional magazines from the comfort of their homes, and subscriptions to MESZL databases and online services are available as well. One notable feature introduced during Phase I's opening was the ability for readers to independently borrow books 24 hours a day, using the so-called locker system. This system allows you to conveniently pick up and return ordered books at any time, regardless of the library's opening hours.
In addition to local history and foreign language collections, mainly German, considerable attention is paid to exploring the diverse history of Soroksár, a part of the city with a rich past. This effort contributes to the enrichment of the Local History Collection and the strengthening of local identity.
The Goethe Institut's 5 X Deutschland exhibition is on display, as well as the Soroksár in Pictures exhibition, a collaboration between the Soroksár Local History Collection and the Library of Soroksár.
The development was supported by the Municipality of Budapest, the Municipality of Soroksár, the XXIII. district, the National Cultural Fund and the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library.
Photos: MESZL