Abstracts – 2/2016

STUDIES

The state of the art of city libraries

TÓTH Máté – JÁVORKA Brigitta

Könyvtári Figyelő (Library Review), vol. 26. (62.) 2016. no. 2. pp. 169‒184.

Starting in 2013, the integration of city and county libraries took place in Hungary which resulted in a more homogeneous circle of city libraries. The city library network provides services for 35% of the Hungarian population. Researchers at the Hungarian Library Institute have recently surveyed the state of city libraries, including factors such as staff, library space, computers, collection and funds. The study used two methods: first, library statistics for the period between 2010 and 2014 were analyzed to review main trends; second, a survey was conducted about library infrastructure, the evolution of services, and current problems and future expectations. Statistical data indicated a slow increase in the number of librarians per capita and in the amount of the acquisitions budget, and a decrease in the volume of materials for loan and the ratio of computers. At the same time, the proportion of remote use is growing. Operating problems caused by insufficient financing make the life of the majority of institutions difficult. Despite this, most librarians look positively into the future and trust that the situation of their institution will improve.

Keywords: Survey, Operating conditions, City libraries

Quality bibliographic records for quality services. Building a shared catalogue at the ELTE University Library Service

BODA Gáborné KÖNTÖS Nelli – SZÉKELYNÉ TÖRÖK Tünde

Könyvtári Figyelő (Library Review), vol. 26. (62.) 2016. no. 2. pp. 185 ‒ 192.

The Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) Library Service, Budapest includes more than 50 libraries at faculties, institutes and departments, as well as independent ones. Staff members of this university library network, the authors, investigated the relationship of cataloguing and management tools and methods, as well as the effect of the quality management approach on library activities in this respect. They attributed great importance to cataloguing, as it is closely related to library work processes, and thus determines the quality of library services in general. In their view catalogues can be consistent and standardized only 1. if related national guidelines keep pace with international trends, 2. if regulations at different levels fit together, and 3. if there are no unregulated areas.

The article describes the shared cataloguing practice and its problems at the ELTE University Library Service. Among the issues raised are: standardization, bibliographic data services, common communication format, exchange of records etc. The authors emphasize that there is an urgent need for unifying cataloguing works at the national level in order to improve quality and to manage resources effectively.

(The study was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Hungarian Librarians in the Section of Bibliography in 2015.)

Keywords: Bibliographic description, University library, Library network, Shared cataloguing, Library standards, MOKKA-ODR, ELTE University Library Service

Some new features of multi-faceted information literacy

KOLTAY Tibor

Könyvtári Figyelő (Library Review), vol. 26. (62.) 2016. no. 2. pp. 193 ‒ 197.

When looking at information literacy from a theoretical point, the concept can be investigated as related to information culture, considering library and information science as a whole. Comprehension is based on an analysis of document texts; information literacy, however, includes a reflective discovery of information. Open access and open data allow that a wide range of researchers can access information. The openness of data is also a prerequisite for transparent governance. Today, we are becoming aware of the relationship between information literacy and environmental knowledge or sustainable development, and also of information literacy in individual disciplines (as illustrated by chemical information in the article). The evaluation of information, too, has undergone a marked change: the general concepts of information literacy are becoming part of the information literacy of individual disciplines.

Keywords: Information literacy, Information society

WORKSHOP

Content analysis of a short story in two developmental bibliotherapy groups

GULYÁS Enikô

Könyvtári Figyelő (Library Review), vol. 26. (62.) 2016. no. 2. pp. 199 ‒ 208.

The study used a short story by a Hungarian author, Frigyes Karinthy (title: Meeting a young man) for discussion by a group of university students (LIS students, University of Debrecen, n=10) and a group of senior citizens (patrons from the Bródy Sándor County and City Library, Eger, n=11). The discussions have been recorded for later analysis with mathematical methods. The research focused on what correlations and differences can be observed when various groups discuss the same literary work (with the discussion being homogeneous in each age group), and whether the use of words and word frequency reflects these. The topics raised during the discussions showed an overlap: e.g., it was mentioned in both groups that the protagonist probably met with his younger self. The ideas emerging at the discussions reflect the interests of the group in question, and themes they are currently thinking about. By affective projection, their feelings and problems can be projected on the players of the literary work, thereby relieving their stress.

Keywords: Bibliotherapy

FROM OUR PAST

Towards the Sovietization of Hungarian librarianship

SONNEVEND Péter

Könyvtári Figyelő (Library Review), vol. 26. (62.) 2016. no. 2. pp. 209 ‒ 226.

„By autumn 1947 the Hungarian Communist Party had occupied key positions in politics and the economy, and had destroyed or weakened the power of a significant part of its political opponents“ – writes a today‘s historian. This background has clearly affected the chances of development of Hungarian librarianship. In 1947/1948 Sovietization was prepared and has gained ground in this area, as presented by several „case studies“ in this essay. One of the early examples (at the turn of 1946–1947) is the study by Géza Sebestyén (On rural libraries). This manuscript has been fundamentally changed when published in the new cultural journal entitled Új Szántás (in February 1947). The official leaders of the free culture movement – Sándor Karácsony and others – were looking for the possibility to survive: many of their actions reflect the intention to adapt to circumstances. They did not succeed, and on behalf of the Communist Party, Kálmán E. Kovács achieved a uniformity of public education by force at a national conference in June 1948. And, quoting Mátyás Rákosi, he practically declared the Cultural Revolution. His speech, published in two versions: in the Communist theoretical journal, Társadalmi Szemle, and in Új Szántás, illustrates the monopolistic character of the coming party control. These trends are clearly perceptible in the special issue on libraries of Új Szántás (May 1946) where the promotion of the Soviet model already started. A survey of libraries at that time reflects dearth; library development was justified but, instead of professional foundations, the Bolshevik example („a few to many“) became dominant.

Keywords: State control, Library policy, History of librarianship, History of the press, Új Szántás, Géza Sebestyén, Free education

New incunabula at the ELTE University Library in the second half of the 18th century

KNAPP Éva

Könyvtári Figyelő (Library Review), vol. 26. (62.) 2016. no. 2. pp. 227 ‒ 230.

In Hungarian public collections there are around 7,100 incunabula (printed before 1501). With this number, Hungary boasts a prominent place among similar collections in Europe. More than half of these incunabula are held in three large collections: the National Library (OSZK), the Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and the ELTE University Library.

The article describes in short the history of the ELTE University Library, holding more than 1200 incunabula, complemented by presenting the incunabula by location, religious orders and, in more detail, by provenance statistics in Pauline monasteries. Electronic access to the bibliographic descriptions of incunabula is available in the online catalogue of the University Library.

Keywords: University library, Rare and old books, Library history, History of typography, ELTE University Library

INTERVIEWS WITH OUR PREDECESSORS

„It is a wonderful intellectual service“. Miklós Marót (1928‒2006)

KISZL Péter ­ PATKÓSNÉ TÓTH Zsuzsanna

Könyvtári Figyelő (Library Review), vol. 26. (62.) 2016. no. 2. pp. 231 ‒ 244.

The legacy of Krisztina Voit, former Head of the Department of Library and Information Science at the Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Humanities (ELTE BTK KITI) discovered unpublished interviews. These interviews were made with significant personalities of our profession, some time in the 1980s. The faculty decided to publish these conversations and to present them in a series in Könyvtári Figyelő. Today, it cannot be established beyond doubt who conducted the interviews, but they certainly serve as valuable resources in learning about the history of the profession. The opening piece of the series is an interview with Miklós Marót (1928-2006), a leading staff member of the Metropolitan Szabó Ervin Library and the ELTE University Library. He tells about the start of library education at the university level, the early years of his career, and the years spent at the two above mentioned libraries.

Keywords: University library, Library education, Library profession, City library, Reference work, ELTE University Library, Metropolitan Szabó Ervin Library

OUTLOOK

Mosaics from the Gothenburg Book Fair

NÉMETH Márton

Könyvtári Figyelő (Library Review), vol. 26. (62.) 2016. no. 2. pp. 245 ‒ 250.

A report on the popular international book trade event, the Gothenburg Bok och Bibliotek which simultaneously focuses on three players: authors, the book market and public collections. In September 2015 Hungary was one of the guests of honour at the Book Fair. Organized by the Balassi Institute Hungarian book culture was introduced, supplemented by interviews and exhibitions showcasing Hungarian literature. The library fora dealt with open access, the evolving Swedish library strategy and user-friendly services.

Keywords: Book exhibition, Librarianship, Developing library services, Open access, Gothenburg, Bok och Bibliotek

BOOK REVIEWS

A survey on digital competences

SIPOS Anna Magdolna – VARGA Katalin – EGER­VÁRI Dóra: Net! Mindenekfelett? Kompetenciák a digitális univerzumban. Pécs, PTE FEEK Könyvtár- és Információtudományi Intézet, 2015. 267 p. (http://mek.oszk.hu/14700/14787/14787.pdf)

(Reviewed by Tibor Koltay)

Könyvtári Figyelő (Library Review), vol. 26. (62.) 2016. no. 2. pp. 251 ‒ 254.

Keywords: Intellectuals, Students, Survey, Digital literacy, Pécs University, PTE FEEK Library and Information Science Institute, Review

Two reviews about the same book

HAJNAL WARD Judit: Nyitott könyvtár. Budapest, Kalligram, 2015. 298 p.

(Reviewed by Tibor Koltay and Béla István Tóth)

Könyvtári Figyelő (Library Review), vol. 26. (62.) 2016. no. 2. pp. 254 ‒ 257.

Keywords: Citation analysis, Library profession, Library education, Publishing, Review

Kosáry Domokos, the librarian

Kosáry Domokos, az Agrártudományi Egyetem tu­do­mányszervező könyvtárigazgatója. Forráskiadvány a Magyar Agrártudományi Egyetemen, Kosáry Domokos alkalmazása alatt keletkezett, és a Kosáry Domokos Könyvtár és Levéltárban őrzött iratokból. Szerk. Török Erzsébet, Kissné Bognár Krisztina. Gödöllő, Szent István Egyetem, 2015. 248. p.

(Reviewed by Miklós Bényei)

Könyvtári Figyelő (Library Review), vol. 26. (62.) 2016. no. 2. pp. 258 ‒ 260.

Keywords: University library, Manuscripts, Library profession, Publishing, Management, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Review

FROM LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE JOURNALS
(Abstracts)

Könyvtári Figyelő (Library Review), vol. 26. (62.) 2016. no. 2. pp. 261 ‒ 304.

Kategória: 2016. 2. szám | A közvetlen link.

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