THE LIBRARY OF THE HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

T H E L I B R A R Y

OF THE H U N G A R I A N ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

1 8 2 6 — 1 9 6 1

T H E LIBRARY OF T H E

HUNGARIAN ACADEMY

O F

S C I E N C E S

1 8 2 6 — 1 9 6 1

T H E L I B R A R Y O F T H E H U N G A R I A N A C A D E M Y OF S C I E N C E S 1826—1961

W i t h t h e c o l l a b o r a t i o n of

C. C S A P O D I , E. M O K A Y E K . G. S A P K Á K , M. 8 Z E N T G Y Ö R G Y I , I . W EGE1Í

edited by G. R Ó Z S A C h i e f L i b r a r i a n

P h o t o s

L. T Ő K É S , G. P B L L É E D I , M A G Y A R F O T O

(c) 1960 bu MTA Könyvtúra

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n t h i s v o l u m e t h e r e a d e r is given a d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e o l d e s t i n s t i t u - t i o n of t h e H u n g a r i a n A c a d c m y of Sciences, t h e L i b r a r y of t h e A c a d e m y , a n o u t l i n e of its h i s t o r y , collections, u s e a n d services. I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e t e x t itself, a n u m b e r of i l l u s t r a t i o n s d e m o n s t r a t e its p a s t a n d p r e s e n t , a n d serve t o r e n d e r a b e t t e r c o n c e p t i o n of t h e i m m e n s e i n t e l l e c t u a l t r e a s u r e t h a t its s t o c k r e p r e s e n t s .

O n l y one y e a r s e p a r a t e s i t s f o u n d a t i o n — i n 1826 — f r o m t h a t of t h e A c a d e m y itself. D u r i n g its 135 y e a r s of e x i s t e n c e t h e L i b r a r y h a s in f a c t b e c o m e a r e p o s i t o r y of t h e best w o r k s p r o d u c e d b y t h e H u n g a r i a n c r e a t i v e s p i r i t a n d b y i n t e r n a t i o n a l l e a r n i n g . Beside t h e u n i q u e s , c o d i c e s , v a l u a b l e m a n u s c r i p t s , i n c u n a b u l a , t h e d o c u m e n t s of t h e l i v i n g p a s t a n d p r e s e n t of H u n g a r i a n science a n d l i t e r a t u r e , i t c o n t a i n s t h e basic w o r k s of scientific l i t e r a t u r e m o n o g r a p h s , h a n d b o o k s , r e f e r e n c e w o r k s , a n d also t h e m o s t i m p o r - t a n t m e a n s of i n f o r m a t i o n for u p - t o - d a t e research w o r k , periodicals. A t p r e s e n t n o less t h a n 4000 k i n d s of periodicals a r e received c o v e r i n g a l m o s t e v e r y b r a n c h of k n o w l e d g e , w r i t t e n i n p r a c t i c a l l y e v e r y civilised languages.

I n d e v e l o p i n g t h e full stock of some 870 0 0 0 l i b r a r y u n i t s , a p r o m i n e n t p a r t — b o t h q u a n t i t a t i v e a n d q u a l i t a t i v e — h a s b e e n a n d is b e i n g p l a y e d b y t h e t r a d i t i o n a l i n t e r n a t i o n a l e x c h a n g e of p u b l i c a t i o n s . This p r a c t i c e is n e a r l y a s old a s t h e L i b r a r y itself, — it w a s b e g u n in 1833. I t was t h e f o u n d e r of t h e A c a d e m y himself, I s t v á n Széchenyi, w h o h a n d e d o v e r t h e first e x c h a n g e copies t o f o r e i g n l e a r n e d s o c i e t i r s . At t h e t u r n of t h e c e n t u r y t h e L i b r a r y was m a i n - t a i n i n g e x c h a n g e r e l a t i o n s w i t h s o m e 200 i n s t i t u t i o n s , a n d b e f o r e W o r l d

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W a r I I , t h i s n u m b e r i n c r e a s e d t o a p p r o x i m a t e l y 500. T h e t u r n i n g of t h e A c a d e m y a n d i t s L i b r a r y i n t o a n i n s t i t u t i o n of t h e socialist t y p e a f t e r t h e L i b e r a t i o n , e x p a n d e d t h i s field of i t s a c t i v i t y o n a v e r y large s c a l e . N o w a d a y s i t s e x c h a n g e r e l a t i o n s i n v o l v e m o r e t h a n 1700 i n s t i t u t i o n s of s o m e 86 s t a t e s . T h i s v o l u m e y i e l d s a n i n s i g h t i n t o t h e a c t i v i t y of t h e l i b r a r i a n s of t h e A c a d e m y d u r i n g t h e n e a r l y one a n d a half c e n t u r i e s of its e x i s t e n c e , in t h e s e r v i c e of H u n g a r i a n c u l t u r e a n d s c i e n c e . I n a d d i t i o n t o a n a c c o u n t of t h e L i b r a r y ' s p r o g r e s s i v e t r a d i t i o n s , i t a l s o gives a n o u t l i n e — t h o u g h o n l y i n g e n e r a l t e r m s — of t h e e f f o r t s m a d e i n t h e s p i r i t of socialist c u l t u r a l a n d s c i e n t i f i c p o l i c y b y t h e A c a d e m y , w h i c h was r e f o r m e d a f t e r t h e L i b e r a t i o n , t o b e c o m e a n e f f e c t i v e , d e v e l o p i n g a n d p r o s p e r i o u s i n s t i t u t i o n .

T h e A c a d e m y a n d i t s L i b r a r y a r e i n s e p a r a b l e , t h e i r h i s t o r i e s h a v e b e c o m e i n t e r w o v e n w i t h e a c h o t h e r d u r i n g m a n y d e c a d e . T h e A c a d e m y , a s well as i t s L i b r a r y c o n s i d e r t h e m s e l v e s t h e s u c c e s s o r s t o a l l p r o g r e s s i v e e n d e a v o u r s t o r a i s e t h e c u l t u r a l a n d scientific s t a n d a r d s of t h e H u n g a r i a n p e o p l e , a n d t o a c h i e v e p e a c e f u l a n d c o n s t r u c t i v e c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e w o r l d o f l e a r n i n g . T h e L i b r a r y s e r v e s t h e s e o b j e c t s t h r o u g h its o w n p a r t i c u l a r m e a n s .

T h e A c a d e m y r e g a r d s t h i s b o o k l e t as a m o d e s t p r e p a r a t o r y w o r k t o a m o r e c o m p r e h e n s i v e h i s t o r y of its L i b r a r y w h i c h is c e r t a i n t o b e w r i t t e n d u r i n g t h e c o u r s e of t h e d e v e l o p i n g H u n g a r i a n r e s e a r c h w o r k o n t h e h i s t o r y of science.

President

of the H u n g a r i a n Academy of Scicnccs

I

T H E H I S T O R Y A N D T A S K S O F T H E L I B R A R Y O F T H E H U N G A R I A N A C A D E M Y O F S C I E N C E S

u r i n g H u n g a r y ' s s t r u g g l e f o r i n d e p e n d e n c e in t h e e a r l y d e c a d e s of t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y one of t h e m a i n t a s k s was t h e c u l t i v a t i o n of t h e H u n g a r i a n l a n g u a g e . O n e of t h e m e a s u r e s t a k e n t o this e n d , w a s t h e f o u n d a - t i o n of t h e H u n g a r i a n L e a r n e d S o c i e t y a t t h e N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y of 1825. I n c o n t r a s t t o s i m i l a r i n s t i t u t i o n s i n m o s t c o u n t r i e s , it was e s t a b l i s h e d n o t b y g r a c e of t h e s o v e r e i g n , b u t b y H u n g a r i a n s o c i e t y a t large. T h e H u n g a r i a n A c a d e m y h a s t h e r e f o r e n e v e r b e e n a „ r o y a l " o n e . I t s f o u n d e r was C o u n t I s t v á n S z é c h e n y i , a g r e a t p o l i t i c i a n of t h e a g e o f reforms, w h o o f f e r e d his o n e y e a r ' s i n c o m e t o s u p p o r t t h e a i m s of t h e A c a d e m y (Fig. 1).

T h e e x a m p l e of t h e g e n e r o u s f o u n d e r w a s followed b y C o u n t J ó z s e f Teleki, t h e f i r s t P r e s i d e n t of t h e A c a d e m y , w h o i n 1826 p r e s e n t e d his l i b r a r y of 30 000 v o l u m e s t o t h e S o c i e t y , a n d t h u s l a i d t h e f o u n d a t i o n s of t h e L i b r a r y of t h e H u n g a r i a n A c a d e m y of S c i e n c e s . (Fig. 3). A c c o r d i n g t o t h e d e e d of f o u n d a t i o n , h e m a d e h i s d o n a t i o n „ f i l l e d with e n t h u s i a s m by l o v e of his c o u n t r y , t o p r o m o t e t h e p u b l i c w e a l " , a n d for „ t h e use of e v e r y c i t i z e n . "

A t t h i s t i m e t h e S z é c h é n y i L i b r a r y of t h e N a t i o n a l M u s e u m , d o n a t e d b y t h e f a t h e r of t h e I s t v á n S z é c h e n y i who f o u n d e d t h e A c a d e m y , m o r e o v e r , t h e U n i v e r s i t y L i b r a r y were a l r e a d y f u n c t i o n i n g . T h e s e t h r e e l a r g e libraries, c o m p l e m e n t a r y t o o n e a n o t h e r , t o o k t h e p l a c e of a single n a t i o n a l l i b r a r y o f g e n e r a l scope in collecting a n d p e r f o r m e d i t s c o m p r e h e n s i v e tasks. T h i s s i t u a t i o n h a s b e e n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of H u n g a r i a n l i b r a r y s y s t e m r i g h t u p t o t h e p r e s e n t .

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T h e H u n g a r i a n A c a d e m y of S c i e n c e s began its w o r k in t e m p o r a r y , h i r e d premises. T h e r e was n o r o o m for e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e T e l e k i L i b r a r y t h e r e a n d t h e hook c o l l e c t i o n , t h e r e f o r e , p r o v i s i o n a l l y a w a i t e d i t s p e r m a n e n t h o m e w i t h the d o n a t i n g family.

M e a n w h i l e t h e L i b r a r y c o n t i n u e d t o grow. T h e e x a m p l e of t h e f o u n d e r was f o l l o w e d b y o t h e r s . P r i v a t e p e r s o n s a n d families, a l m o s t in c o m p e t i t i o n with o n e a n o t h e r , p r e s e n t e d the t r e a s u r e s of their l i b r a r i e s , s o m e t i m e s whole collections, t o t h e L i b r a r y of t h e A c a d e m y . A good m a n y c o m m o n p e o p l e also increased i t s stock. As f a r back as t b e e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y , t h e g e n e r a l desire to e s t a b l i s h t h e H u n g a r i a n L e a r n e d S o c i e t y was d e e p - r o o t e d in t h e b e s t sons of t h e n a t i o n . A c h a r a c t e r i s t i c e x a m p l e is t h e f a c t t h a t more t h a n a d e c a d e before t h e f o u n d a t i o n I s t v á n S á n d o r , , t h e first H u n g a r i a n b i b l i o g r a p h e r " , had, in h i s will a l r e a d y l e f t his collection of books, p i c t u r e s , a n d coins, supple- m e n t e d b y a c o n s i d e r a b l e f o u n d a t i o n t o t h e A c a d e m y t o be e s t a b l i s h e d a t some t i m e i n t h e f u t u r e .

T h e A c a d e m y ' s m e m b e r s also a d d e d works o f t h e i r own t o t h e stocks of t h e L i b r a r y . T h e b o o k a n d m a n u s c r i p t b e q u e s t s of a n u m b e r of p r o m i n e n t persons b e c a m e p a r t of t h e Library, i n c l u d i n g , a m o n g o t h e r s , t h o s e o f F e r e n c K a z i n c z y , t h e o r g a n i z e r of H u n g a r i a n l i t e r a r y life, M i h á l y V ö r ö s m a r t y , t h e g r e a t e s t H u n g a r i a n r o m a n t i c poet, t h e h i s t o r i a n of l i t e r a t u r e F e r e n c T o l d y , the G e n e r a l S e c r e t a r y o f t h e A c a d e m y a s well as s e v e r a l of t h e i r c o n t e m p o - raries. T h e L i b r a r y w a s a l s o a u g m e n t e d b y valuable c o d i c e s . As a g i f t of J ó z s e f Teleki, t h e f o u n d e r , t h e L i b r a r y e v e n o b t a i n e d a c o d e x f r o m t h e w o r l d - f a m o u s B i b l i o t h e c a Corvina of M a t t h i a s C o r v i n u s , the last n a t i o n a l k i n g a n d g r e a t h u m a n i s t .

P a r a l l e l with t h e s e gifts, t h e o r g a n i z i n g a n d d i r e c t i n g a c t i v i t y c a r r i e d on b y t h e A c a d e m y i n t h e field of s c i e n c e also c o n t r i b u t e d to t h e L i b r a r y ' s growth. T h e a c a d e m i c i a n s set about c o l l e c t i n g t h e v o c a b u l a r y of t h e H u n g a r i a n language, c o n d u c t e d c o m p e t i t i o n s f o r s c i e n t i f i c a n d l i t e r a r y works, criticizing them a n d p u b l i s h i n g t h e b e s t . T h e p u b l i c a t i o n of y e a r - b o o k s a n d a s c i e n t i f i c journal w a s s t a r t e d . T h e A c a d e m y s u b s c r i b e d t o f o r e i g n journals a n d e s t a b - lished e x c h a n g e relations w i t h foreign i n s t i t u t i o n s . I n 1840 t h e p r i n t i n g offices were o b l i g e d b y law t o s e n d deposit c o p i e s also t o t h e L i b r a r y of t h e A c a d e m y .

T h e s t o c k , w h i c h grew t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e A c a d e m y a n d t h e T e l e k i Lib- r a r y , s e r v i n g as hasis f o r t h e L i b r a r y of t h e A c a d e m y , were f o u n d j o i n t a c c o m - m o d a t i o n in 1836. T h e house, the f o r m e r h o m e of t h e A c a d e m y a n d i t s L i b r a r y , still s t a n d s i n t a c t a t t h e busiest s p o t of t h e c e n t r e of t h e city, a t 3, P e t ő f i S á n d o r S t r e e t , b e a r i n g t h e n a m e of t h e best k n o w n H u n g a r i a n p o e t . T h e collection t h e n consisting of about 50 000 volumes, w a s housed on t h e second floor in t h e eight p r e m i s e s of t h e w i n g facing t h e c o u r t y a r d (Fig. 4) T h e d o n a t i o n of t h e Teleki f a m i l y was now k e p t here, b u t a d m i n i s t e r e d s e p a r a t e l y . T h e L i b r a r y of t h e A c a d e m y was o p e n e d in 1844. On this occasion Mihály V ö r ö s m a r t y , t h e H u n g a r i a n prince of p o e t s of t h a t t i m e wrote a n o d e u n d e r t h e title ,,Thoughts in the library" (Fig.6). , , H a s t h e w o r l d m a d e progress t h r o u g h b o o k s ? " — h e asks. N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e m a n y depressing e x a m p l e s of t h e p a s t , h e feels t h a t we h a v e to struggle b y m e a n s of b o o k s for t h e r u l e of t r u t h a n d love, f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n of t h e p o o r e s t . V ö r ö s m a r t y as one of t h e leaders of t h e A c a d e m y was g i v e n inspiration t o t h e poem in t h i s L i b r a r y , b e c a u s e for lack of s e p a r a t e r e a d i n g rooms a n d w o r k i n g places research w o r k e r s a n d l i b r a r i a n s w o r k e d on t a b l e s among t h e shelves in t h o s e days.

T h e f i r s t p r i n t e d directions f o r l i b r a r y a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d r u l e s of pro- cedure, compiled in a well-considered a n d e x p e r t m a n n e r by F e r e n c Toldy, were p r e p a r e d in 1848, t h e year of t h e revolution, t h a t was so f u l l of p r o m i s e for t h e n a t i o n (Fig. 7—8).

I n 1849, a f t e r t h e suppression of t h e struggle f o r f r e e d o m , t h e A c a d e m y ' s a c t i v i t y , t o o , was p a r a l y s e d by a b s o l u t i s m .

I n 1851 F e r e n c T o l d y , acting as b o t h General S e c r e t a r y a n d L i b r a r i a n of t h e A c a d e m y , yielded t h e direction of t h e L i b r a r y t o P á l H u n f a l v y , o n e of t h e f o u n d e r s of F i n n o - U g r i a n c o m p a r a t i v e linguistics.

I n t h e 1860's m o r e f a v o u r a b l e d a y s d a w n e d f o r t h e A c a d e m y a n d its L i b r a r y . N a t i o n a l c o n t r i b u t i o n s m a d e it possible t o b e g i n building t h e palace of t h e A c a d e m y . A w o r t h y place was f o u n d for it in o n e of t h e m o s t b e a u t i f u l spots of B u d a p e s t , n e a r t o the o t h e r e s t a b l i s h m e n t s d u e to I s t v á n Széchenyi, in t h e n e i g h b o u r h o o d of t h e T u n n e l u n d e r Castle Hill a n d of t h e C h a i n Bridge linking B u d a with P e s t . Friedrich Stiller, an a r c h i t e c t of Berlin designed t h e palace in t h e spirit of t h e flourishing I t a l i a n R e n a i s s a n c e . T h e b u i l d i n g was

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c a r r i e d o u t b y H u n g a r i a n a r c h i t e c t s a n d c r a f t s m e n . I n 1958, a b o u t a h u n d r e d y e a r s a f t e r t h e c o m p l e t i o n of t h e b u i l d i n g , d u r i n g repairs t o t h e f l o o r of t h e a s s e m b l y hall, a l e t t e r was d i s c o v e r e d f r o m t h e j o i n e r s w o r k i n g o n t h e b u i l d i n g a t t h a t t i m e . T h e y f i n i s h t h e i r l e t t e r with t h e w i s h t h a t t h o s e w h o will r e a d i t m a y see b e t t e r d a y s t h e n t h e y d i d (Fig. 10).

T h e m o v e i n t o t h e p a l a c e i n i t i a t e d a n e w p e r i o d for b o t h t h e A c a d e m y a n d its L i b r a r y . T h e m o v e was d i r e c t e d b y J á n o s A r a n y , t h e G e n e r a l S e c r e t a r y of t h a t t i m e , t h e g r e a t e s t H u n g a r i a n realist p o e t a n d t r a n s l a t o r a n d b e s t f r i e n d of P e t ő f i . His a c t i v i t y c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e L i b r a r y is recorded i n i n n u m e r a b l e d o c u m e n t s d a t i n g f r o m t h e t h i r t e e n y e a r p e r i o d while ho w a s t h e A c a d e m y ' s G e n e r a l S e c r e t a r y . H e took p a r t i n t h e work of t h e L i b r a r y C o m m i t t e e , a n d i t was h e w h o p r o p o s e d , a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s , t h a t t h e n a m e s of t h e L i b r a r y ' s f o u n d e r s b e e n g r a v e d in a m e m o r i a l t a b l e t . T h a t n o t h i n g e s c a p e d his a t t e n t i o n , a p p e a r s f r o m t h e f a c t t h a t it w a s a l s o he w h o i n t r o d u c e d t h e u s e of call slips f o r r e a d e r s . H e w a s a d e v o t e d user of t h e L i b r a r y .

T h e m o v e i n t o t h e palace t e m p o r a r i l y p u t a n e n d t o t h e w a n t of space, so t h a t t h e r e o r g a n i z a t i o n of t h e L i b r a r y c o u l d b e b e g u n . T o g e t h e r with t h e linguist J ó z s e f B u d e n z a n d t h e a r c h a e o l o g i s t F l ó r i s R ó m e r , P á l H u n f a l v y , w h o was t h e n t h e h e a d of L i b r a r y , w o r k e d o u t a n e w shelving s y s t e m a n d s u b j e c t a r r a n g e m e n t .

W i t h t h e p e r m i s s i o n of t h e d o n a t i n g f a m i l y , t h e T e l e k i L i b r a r y w a s u n i t e d w i t h t h e m a t e r i a l collected b y t h e L i b r a r y of t h e A c a d e m y . T h e a r r a n g e - m e n t of t h e s t o c k a c c o r d i n g t o s u b j e c t s was b e g u n . T h e s h e l f - m a r k s o r i g i n a t e d f r o m t h e a b b r e v i a t i o n s of t h e H u n g a r i a n n a m e s i n d i c a t i n g f i f t y - f o u r s u b j e c t s (e. g. F i g . 8, r i g h t t o p corner). A t t h a t t i m e t h e L i b r a r y h a d t h r e e k i n d s of c a t a l o g u e : t o p o g r a p h i c a l , a l p h a b e t i c a l , a n d s u b j e c t catalogues. T h e L i b r a r y h o u s e d in t h e h e a d q u a r t e r s , w a s o p e n e d in 1867.

F r o m t h e m o v e i n t o t h e n e w b u i l d i n g t o t h e F i r s t W o r l d W a r , t h e g r o w t h of t h e L i b r a r y w a s s t e a d y . A t f i r s t t h e t e c h n i c a l e q u i p m e n t w a s also u p - t o - d a t e . J ' h e r e a d i n g r o o m h a d g a s l i g h t i n g a n d , f r o m 1895, electric lighting. T h e m a i n s t a c k - r o o m w a s f i t t e d w i t h c e n t r a l h e a t i n g b u i l t in t h e f l o o r .

I n 1897 t h e L i b r a r y ' s stock g r e w r a p i d l y b e c a u s e t h e p r i n t i n g offices h a d b e e n obliged b y a m o r e s t r i n g e n t l a w t o deliver d e p o s i t copies. Llowever, t h e r e

w e r e n e i t h e r e n o u g h m a n p o w e r n o r a d e q u a t e s p a c e f o r d e a l i n g w i t h a n in- c r e a s e d r a t e of a c q u i s i t i o n . T h e s e d i f f i c u l t i e s b e c a m e f a i r l y critical d u r i n g t h e F i r s t W o r l d W a r . In t h e s e h a r d t i m e s K á l m á n S z i l y w a s t h e G e n e r a l Secre- t a r y . S e v e r a l l i b r a r y p u b l i c a t i o n s a r e l i n k e d w i t h his n a m e a t t h e b e g i n n i n g of h i s t e r m of office. I n 1905, f o r i n s t a n c e , a list of t h e p e r i o d i c a l s a v a i l a b l e in t h e L i b r a r y of t h e H u n g a r i a n A c a d e m y of Sciences w a s p u b l i s h e d .

I n respect t o b o t h a c q u i s i t i o n a n d e x c h a n g e , t h e w a r - y e a r s r e s u l t e d in a g r e a t regression. T h e A c a d e m y , s p o n s o r e d b y f o u n d a t i o n s , g r e w p o o r . T h e s i t u a t i o n a f t e r t h e w a r was no m o r e f a v o u r a b l e . I n f l a t i o n h i n d e r e d t h e p u r - c h a s e of hooks f r o m a b r o a d a n d t h e n u m b e r of d e p o s i t copies r e c e i v e d also d e c r e a s e d s t r o n g l y .

U n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n of Z o l t á n Ferenczi, t h e n e x t Chief L i b r a r i a n , new s t a c k - r o o m s were a d d e d t o t h e L i b r a r y . T h i s m a d e i t possible in 1925 t o house in a n a d e q u a t e m a n n e r t h e whole s t o c k , consisting of 262 000 v o l u m e s .

T h e F i n n o - U g r i a n scholar J ó z s e f Szinnyei, d u r i n g his p e r i o d a s Chief L i b r a r i a n , c o n s i d e r e d it his m a i n t a s k t o process t h e u n c a t a l o g u e d m a t e r i a l . T h i s w a s all t h e m o r e n e c e s s a r y b e c a u s e in 1929 t h e A c a d e m y r e c e i v e d as a b e q u e s t b y Count F e r e n c V i g y á z ó n o t only a v e r y l a r g e e s t a t e b u t , for its L i b r a r y , a n e x t r a o r d i n a r i l y v a l u a b l e collection of b o o k s (codices, i n c u n a b u l a , a n c i e n t H u n g a r i a n b o o k s , book r a r i t i e s in bibliophile b i n d i n g s . ) T h e A c a d e m y f i r s t w i s h e d t o m a k e t h e Vigyázó e s t a t e m o r e p r o f i t a b l e b y m e a n s of i n v e s t - m e n t , so t h a t no m o n e y f r o m t h e e s t a t e was s p e n t o n t h e L i b r a r y ' s develop- m e n t .

B o o k p u r c h a s e s f r o m a b r o a d b e t w e e n t h e t w o w o r l d w a r s w e r e v e r y s l i g h t . Deposit copies essentially i n v o l v e d a q u a n t i t a t i v e g r o w t h o n l y , t h u s m e r e l y i n c r e a s i n g t h e e x i s t i n g w a n t of space. T h e L i b r a r y also b e c a m e b a c k - w a r d f r o m t h e t e c h n i c a l p o i n t of v i e w .

D u r i n g t h e S e c o n d W o r l d W a r t h e Chief L i b r a r i a n J á n o s Melich, h a d t o c o n c e n t r a t e all his e n e r g i e s on s a v i n g t h e stocks. S o m e v a l u a b l e p a r t s of t h e b o o k a n d m a n u s c r i p t collections w e r e d e p o s i t e d in t h e a i r - r a i d s h e l t e r of t h e A c a d e m y ' s palace, t h e cave-cellars u n d e r Castle Hill, t h e c o u n t r y s h e l t e r of t h e N a t i o n a l B a n k a s well as t h e c e l l a r s of t h e N a t i o n a l M u s e u m . D u r i n g t h e b a t t l e f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n of B u d a p e s t t h e r e a d i n g r o o m was closed a n d l i b r a r y

11

w o r k s t o p p e d . A t t h e t u r n of 1 9 4 4 — 1 9 4 5 a fire b r o k e o u t in t h e p a l a c e b u t it w a s e x t i n g u i s h e d .

D e v a s t a t e d p r e m i s e s , b u r s t o p e n b y s h o o t i n g , a n d a d e a d b o o k collection i n t h e s t a c k - r o o m s w i t h o u t w i n d o w s s t o o d in t h e p l a c e of a l i v i n g l i b r a r y a t t h e l i b e r a t i o n of t h e c o u n t r y . F r o m 1945 t o 1948 o r d e r was g r a d u a l l y r e s t o r e d in t h e d e v a s t a t e d s t a c k - r o o m s . T h e r e m o v e d u n i t s were b r o u g h t b a c k b y d e g r e e s . T h e s t o c k s of t h e L i b r a r y s u f f e r e d r e l a t i v e l y slight d a m a g e .

W i t h t h e h e l p of t h e G o v e r n m e n t t h e d a m a g e d r e a d i n g room was r e s t o r e d . This, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e periodicals r e a d i n g r o o m a d j a c e n t t o it, o b t a i n e d fine u p - t o - d a t e e q u i p m e n t . P l a n s w e r e d r a w n u p f o r a c c o m o d a t i n g t h e d e p a r t m e n t of m a n u s c r i p t s a n d a n c i e n t b o o k s a s well a s t h e O r i e n t a l d e p a r t m e n t .

I n order t o e n s u r e its f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t , t h e L i b r a r y h a d t o solve t h r e e m a i n t a s k s :

t o o v e r c o m e its i s o l a t i o n f r o m t h e n a t i o n a l l i b r a r y s y s t e m , t o i n c r e a s e book a c q u i s i t i o n s f r o m a b r o a d ,

t o d e v e l o p its t e c h n i c a l e q u i p m e n t .

T h e d e p a r t m e n t s of t h e L i b r a r y were o r g a n i z e d f o r u p - t o - d a t e l i b r a r y w o r k in 1948.

M o d e r n i z a t i o n was soon m a k i n g itself f e l t i n e v e r y d o m a i n of l i b r a r y life.

I n 1948 t h e s t o c k s w e r e a u g m e n t e d b y 7000 w o r k s of w h i c h p u r c h a s e s f r o m a b r o a d a c c o u n t e d f o r 1200 v o l u m e s . T h e r e g u l a r a r r i v a l of 530 f o r e i g n a n d 170 H u n g a r i a n p e r i o d i c a l s i n d i c a t e d t h e f u t u r e t r e n d of g r o w t h . T h e f a c t , t h a t t h e r e a d i n g - r o o m w a s o p e n all d a y , a l s o complied w i t h t h e new r e q u i r e m e n t s . T h u s t h e y e a r 1949 was a herald, a n i n t r o d u c t o r y p e r i o d of t h e L i b r a r y ' s large-scale d e v e l o p m e n t .

P u r s u a n t t o t h e Act X X V I I of 1949 on t h e r e o r g a n i z a t i o n of t h e A c a d e m y , t h e H u n g a r i a n A c a d e m y of S c i e n c e s b e c a m e t h e s u p r e m e s c i e n t i f i c b o d y of t h e H u n g a r i a n P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c a n d t h e leading o r g a n i z a t i o n of H u n g a r i a n scien- t i f i c life. T h e S t a t e e n s u r e s t h e f i n a n c i a l f u n d s r e q u i r e d for p e r f o r m i n g t h e s e t a s k s . T h e r e b o r n A c a d e m y g r a d u a l l y d e v e l o p e d its n e t w o r k of i n s t i t u t e s in w h i c h t h e L i b r a r y , as t h e A c a d e m y ' s oldest i n s t i t u t e , o c c u p i e d its w o r t h y p l a c e .

T h e m a i n t a s k of t h e L i b r a r y , as i t s e t o u t on t h e p a t h of Socialist d e v e l o p - m e n t , was t o s u p p o r t t h e scientific r e s e a r c h w o r k c a r r i e d on h y t h e A c a d e m y . I n d e t a i l :

(1) I t s u p p l i e s H u n g a r i a n scientific r e s e a r c h ( m o r e e x a c t l y : t h a t c a r r i e d on h y t h e A c a d e m y ) w i t h H u n g a r i a n a n d foreign d o c u m e n t a t i o n ( b o o k s , periodicals, m a n u s c r i p t s , m i c r o f i l m s a n d r e f e r e n c e services.)

(2) T h r o u g h r e g u l a r e x c h a n g e s c h e m e s , it sends H u n g a r i a n s p e c i a l lite- r a t u r e , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e p u b l i c a t i o n s of t h e A c a d e m y , t o foreign s c i e n t i f i c i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d research w o r k e r s ; m o r e o v e r i t acquires t h e n e c e s s a r y s c i e n t i f i c m a t e r i a l f r o m a b r o a d .

(3) I t r e n d e r s t h e i n s t i t u t i o n a l l i b r a r i e s a f f i l i a t e d t o t h e A c a d e m y ' s n e t - work d i f f e r e n t services a n d gives t h e m p r o f e s s i o n a l a s s i s t a n c e .

(4) I t t a k e s p a r t in t h e n a t i o n - w i d e i n t e r - l i b r a r y w o r k a i m e d a t d e v e l o p - i n g t h e H u n g a r i a n Socialist l i b r a r y s y s t e m .

(5) I t e n g a g e s in a c t i v i t y in t h e f i e l d s of l i b r a r y science a n d o t h e r spe- cialized b r a n c h e s of k n o w l e d g e .

I n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h t h e new t a s k s , t h e scope of t h e L i b r a r y h a s b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d a s follows.

I t c o l l e c t s

(1) t h e l i t e r a t u r e of m a r x i s m - l e n i n i s m ;

(2) t h e p u b l i c a t i o n s of foreign a c a d e m i e s of sciences a n d t h e l i t e r a t u r e r e l a t i n g t o t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s ;

(3) s p e c i a l works o n policies f o r s c i e n c e a n d o n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d p l a n n i n g of scientific r e s e a r c h ;

(4) s t a n d a r d works o n t h e social a n d n a t u r a l sciences, g e n e r a l , biblio- graphical, a n d r e f e r e n c e w o r k s , f u r t h e r m o r e , works of f i c t i o n b y t h e classics a n d p r o m i n e n t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of world l i t e r a t u r e .

(5) As a scientific s p e c i a l library, i t a c q u i r e s on a n a t i o n - w i d e s c a l e t h e l i t e r a t u r e o n t h e following s u b j e c t s :

a n c i e n t h i s t o r y c l a s s i c a l p h i l o l o g y

h i s t o r y of w o r l d l i t e r a t u r e O r i e n t a l l i t e r a t u r e

l i n g u i s t i c s .

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(6) As r e g a r d s periodicals, t h e field of c o l l e c t i n g is, t h r o u g h t h e e x c h a n g e of t h e ACTA p u b l i s h e d b y t h e A c a d e m y , m o r e c o m p r e h e n s i v e , i n t h e i n t e r e s t s of basic r e s e a r c h .

(7) I n c e r t a i n b r a n c h e s of b a s i c r e s e a r c h it p r o v i d e s i n a d v a n c e f o r t h e a c q u i s i t i o n of b a s i c special l i i e r a t u r e f r o m a b r o a d .

(8) Of a n c i e n t b o o k s i t a c q u i r e s c h i e f l y t h e works i m p o r t a n t f r o m t h e p o i n t of view of t h e h i s t o r y of science. As f a r a s m a n u s c r i p t s a r e c o n c e r n e d , i t collects m a i n l y t h o s e c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e A c a d e m y : d o c u m e n t s o n t h e A c a d e m y , d i s s e r t a t i o n s f o r t h e degrees of C a n d i d a t e a n d D o c t o r of Sciences.

W i t h t h e f u n t i o n s a n d f i e l d of collecting m e n t i o n e d a b o v e t h e L i b r a r y h a s a d a p t e d itself t o t h e n a t i o n a l l i b r a r y s y s t e m . W h e n r e q u i r e d , it also t a k e s p a r t in t h e w o r k of t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s c o n n e c t e d w i t h its c h a r a c t e r ( U N E S C O , A S L I B , F I D ) .

At p r e s e n t t h e L i b r a r y ' s s t o c k i n c l u d e s a b o u t 870 000 i t e m s of w h i c h some 200 000 a r e m a n u s c r i p t s . T h e a n n u a l accession g e n e r a l l y c o m p r i s e s

16 000 v o l u m e s .

Ovei a n d a b o v e t h e s e f i g u r e s , t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e of t h e L i b r a r y a n d t h e v a l u e of its collections lie in t h e f a c t t h a t , as t h e l i b r a r y of t h e A c a d e m y , it is a n i m p o r t a n t i n s t i t u t i o n of t h e H u n g a r i a n A c a d e m y of Sciences w h i c h d i r e c t t h e scientific life of t h e whole c o u n t r y a n d i n t h a t , as a g e n e r a l large r e s e a r c h library, it collects exclusively scientific m a t e r i a l .

T h e L i b r a r y is u n d e r t h e i m m e d i a t e s u p e r v i s i o n of t h e P r e s i d e n t of t h e A c a d e m y . I n a g r e e m e n t with h i m , t h e M i n i s t e r of E d u c a t i o n exercises p r o f e s - sional c o n t r o l o v e r i t .

T h e i n c r e a s e d new t a s k s h a v e m a d e i t n e c e s s a r y t o organize f u r t h e r d e p a r t m e n t s a n d divisions t o d e v e l o p a m o r e s a t i s f a c t o r y s y s t e m of l i b r a r y m a n a g e m e n t s , t o increase c o n s i d e r a b l y t h e s t a f f a n d t o e n s u r e a d e q u a t e f i n a n - cial f u n d s a s well a s space. (As r e g a r d s t h e l a t t e r , t h e L i b r a r y h a s in spite of t h e new e s t a b l i s h m e n t s , not b e e n a b l e in e v e r y r e s p e c t t o k e e p p a c e w i t h t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s p o s e d b y its r a p i d d e v e l o p m e n t . )

T h e L i b r a r y consists of t h e following u n i t s : (1) M a n a g e m e n t (and F i n a n c e Office) (2) A c q u i s i t i o n D e p a r t m e n t

(3) E x c h a n g e Division (4) C a t a l o g u e D e p a r t m e n t (5) C i r c u l a t i o n D e p a r t m e n t

(6) R e f e r e n c e a n d Bibliographical D e p a r t m e n t (7) Periodicals Division

(8) D e p a r t m e n t of M a n u s c r i p t s a n d Old Books (9) Oriental D e p a r t m e n t

(10) Microfilm Collection a n d P h o t o g r a p h i c L a b o r a t o r y (11) B i n d i n g s h o p .

I n a d d i t i o n t o l i b r a r y w o r k p r o p e r , t h e L i b r a r y also engages in scientific a c t i v i t y of its o w n , i n c l u d i n g t h a t in t h e field of l i b r a r y science. Owing t o t h e large n u m b e r of p r a c t i c a l t a s k s a n d earlier emissions t o b e m a d e good t h e r e is, h o w e v e r , relatively little o p p o r t u n i t y f o r t h e L i b r a r y ' s s t a f f t o carry on a c t i v e s c i e n t i f i c work. I n t h i s r e s p e c t t h e so-called „research d a y s " p e r m i t t e d b y t h e A c a d e m y are of considerable assistance. T h e y m a k e it possible to c u l t i v a t e n o t o n l y l i b r a r y science b u t also o t h e r specialized b r a n c h e s of L e a r n i n g a n d t h u s i n d i r e c t l y c o n t r i b u t e t o raising l i b r a r y w o r k (e. g. a c q u i s i t i o n , r e f e r e n c e , in- crease a n d t r e a t m e n t of special collections, etc.) to a h i g h e r level.

A serial is p u b l i s h e d b y t h e L i b r a r y u n d e r t h e title: Publicationes Bibliothecae Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae which h a s also been g i v e n a f a v o u r a b l e r e c e p t i o n a b r o a d .

I n t h e p a s t t e n y e a r s , t h e L i b r a r y , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e reorganized A c a d e m y , h a s developed i n t o a n i n s t i t u t i o n of a Socialist type. I t s h i s t o r y , c o v e r i n g 135 y e a r s , h a s been i n t e r w o v e n w i t h t h a t of t h e A c a d e m y . T h e l a t t e r j u s t like its L i b r a r y , has r e a c h e d t h e h i g h e s t stage of its d e v e l o p m e n t since H u n g a r y ' s L i b e r a t i o n in 1945, a n d especially in t h e l a s t t e n years.

T h e L i b r a r y c a n n o t h a v e a n y f i n e r t a s k t h a n in i t s own p a r t i c u l a r w a y to h e l p t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e A c a d e m y a n d of H u n g a r i a n science a n d t h u s t h e b u i l d i n g of Socialism.

IS

II

T H E U S E O F T H E L I B R A R Y

f )

V Y he L i b r a r y of t h e A c a d e m y is a research l i b r a r y of a p u b l i c c h a r a c t e r for r e s e a r c h workers. Its use is f r e e .

T h e visitor t o t h e L i b r a r y f i r s t passes t h r o u g h the o r n a t e vestibule of t h e P a l a c e of the A c a d e m y . B e t w e e n t h e columns a r a n g e of show-cases display t h e L i b r a r y ' s occasional exhibitions, r e m i n d i n g t h e viewer on v a r i o u s anniversaries of t h e most o u t s t a n d i n g scholars a n d a r t i s t s of m a n k i n d b y p r e s e n t i n g d a t a , p i c t u r e s , m a n u s c r i p t s , books a n d periodicals. S i n c e 1950 e x h i b i t i o n s h a v e b e e n d e v o t e d to t h e m e m o r y of D a r w i n , Edison, M m e Curie, M a i m o n i d e s , Ooetlie, M i l t o n , Scott, T u r g e n e v , Gogol, H u g o , W a g n e r , H a y d n a n d a m o n g t h e H u n - g a r i a n s of J á n o s A r a n y , E n d r e A d y , Attila J ó z s e f , K á l m á n Mikszáth, A u r é l S t e i n , Sándor K ö r ö s i Csorna, O t t ó H e r m a n a n d t h e f o u n d e r of t h e A c a d e m y , I s t v á n Széchenyi. T h e r e h a v e b e e n two e x h i b i t i o n s as p a r t of t h e U N E S C O P r o g r a m for „ M u t u a l A p p r e c i a t i o n of E a s t e r n a n d W e s t e r n C u l t u r a l V a l u e s " , o n e on „India a n d h e r H u n g a r i a n E x p l o r e r s " t h e o t h e r on „ A s i a a n d H u n g a r i a n O r i e n t a l S t u d i e s " .

On e n t e r i n g t h e small e n t r a n c e hall of t h e L i b r a r y t h e r e a d e r is w e l c o m e d b y t w o white m a r b l e statues r e p r e s e n t i n g J ó z s e f Teleki, t h e L i b r a r y ' s f o u n d e r , a n d Ferenc T o l d y who was t h e f i r s t to do l i b r a r y work in t h e collection.

I n the show-cases of t h e entrance hall t h e d u s t covers of books r e c e n t l y r e c e i v e d draw t h e visitor's a t t e n t i o n to t h e L i b r a r y ' s new acquisitions.

From h e r e w e e n t e r t h e i m p o s i n g Main Stack, a large o b l o n g room s i m i l a r t o t h e old o n e - r o o m libraries ( F i g . 11), f r o m w h i c h a forged i r o n door s e p a r a t e s t h e Catalogue-Room where t h e L i b r a r y ' s s e v e r a l card c a t a l o g u e s are filed. ( T h e y

a r e m a d e u p of i n t e r n a t i o n a l c a t a l o g u e c a r d s d u p l i c a t e d b y t h e O r m i g s y s t e m . ) T h e m a i n c a t a l o g u e comprises t h e a l p h a b e t i c a l list of m a t e r i a l a c q u i r e d since 1950 a s well as t h a t of t h e old s t o c k w h i c h is g r a d u a l l y being r e c a t a l o g u e d . T h e r e is, in a d d i t i o n , a s y s t e m a t i c c a t a l o g u e a r r a n g e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e U n i v e r - sal D e c i m a l Classification (UDC), a n d a g e o g r a p h i c a l c a t a l o g u e in w h i c h t h e t i t l e s a r c e n t e r e d u n d e r t h e g e o g r a p h i c a l subdivisions of U D C . T h e r e is also a series c a r d c a t a l o g u e t o p r o v i d e i n f o r m a t i o n for r e a d e r s . Old m a t e r i a l n o t so f a r r e c a t a l o g u e d is listed a l p h a b e t i c a l l y in a loose-leaf catalogue k e p t in big old b o x e s ; some of its pages a r e m a n u s c r i p t s of f o r m e r librarians. F r o m t h e old s y s t e m of shelving t h e books in a n a r r a n g e m e n t b y b r o a d s u b j e c t fields, t h e L i b r a r y h a s t u r n e d t o t h e u p - t o - d a t e c u r r e n t n u m b e r or accession o r d e r of s h e l v i n g .

L e a v i n g t h e C a t a l o g u e R o o m , we e n t e r t h e s u n l i t Reading Room f a c i n g t h e D a n u b e e m b a n k m e n t (Fig. 12). F r o m its windows t h e r e is a s p l e n d i d view of G e l l é r t llill, t h e C h a i n Bridge a n d t h e Castle of B u d a . On one wall of the r o o m m a r b l e t a b l e t s remind t h e visitor of t h e donors w h o h a v e e n r i c h e d t h e L i b r a r y w i t h t h e i r e n d o w m e n t s , while on t h e o t h e r , t h r e e oil p a i n t i n g s show F e r e n c Kölcsey, a n o u t s t a n d i n g H u n g a r i a n p o e t a n d philosopher, t h e a u t h o r of o u r n a t i o n a l a n t h e m ; J á n o s B a t s á n y i , a p o e t w h o greeted t h e F r e n c h R e v o l u t i o n ; a n d F a r k a s Bolyai, a n o t e d scientist, f a t h e r of t h e w o r l d - f a m e d m a t e m a t i c i a n J á n o s Bolyai. A reference l i b r a r y of 3000 v o l u m e s is l o c a t e d here in b o o k c a s e s a l o n g t h e walls, a r r a n g e d b y s u b j e c t fields t o which r e a d e r s h a v e f r e e access. 34 research workers can b e a c c o m m o d a t e d in t h i s room.

T h e n e x t door opens i n t o t h e Periodicals Reading Room. It has a shelving of c u r r e n t issues of a b o u t 1300 periodicals of t h e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4000 serial titles ( j o u r n a l s , a n n a l s , y e a r b o o k s , r e p o r t s , etc.) received. 8 research workers can be a c c o m m o d a t e d in this room. Bot h t h e a l p h a b e t i c a l a n d s u b j e c t catalogues of t h e periodicals a r e housed h e r e (Fig. 13). T h e f u l l stock of periodicals c o m p r i s i n g some 10 000 kinds of p u b l i c a t i o n in a b o u t 100 000 v o l u m e s , is l o c a t e d in t h e n e w periodicals s t a c k of t h e L i b r a r y t h a t was c o n s t r u c t e d a f t e r t h e L i b e r a t i o n , a n d is e q u i p p e d w i t h m o d e r n a d j u s t a b l e i r o n shelves (Fig. 14). T h e L i b r a r y issues lists of c u r r e n t periodicals received f r o m a b r o a d . T h e periodicals g r o u p b e c a m e a s e p a r a t e division in 1954.

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Books are l e n t b y the Circulation Department, a n d h o m e lending is p e r - m i t t e d — as a rule — only for m e m b e r s of t h e A c a d e m y , scholars a n d scientists w i t h D o c t o r ' s or C a n d i d a t e ' s degrees, research w o r k e r s a t t h e i n s t i t u t e s of t h e A c a d e m y , u n i v e r s i t y staff, a n d t h e scientific w o r k e r s of o t h e r libraries. W o r k s p u b l i s h e d u n d e r a series title, dictionaries, b o o k s of special value, old books, r a r i t i e s , periodicals a n d m a n u s c r i p t s m a y n o t b e t a k e n out,

Reference w o r k is done p a r t l y b y t h e Information Section of t h e Circu- l a t i o n D e p a r t m e n t , a n d p a r t l y b y t h e Reference and Bibliographical Department s e t u p in 1953. T h e l a t t e r is c h a r g e d with s u p p l y i n g t h e P r e s i d i u m a n d t h e scientific a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e o r g a n s as well a s t h e i n s t i t u t e s of t h e A c a d e m y w i t h i n f o r m a t i o n , b i b l i o g r a p h i e s , e t c . T h e d e p a r t m e n t replies t o n u m e r o u s i n q u i r i e s on t h e p a s t of t h e A c a d e m y , i n t e r n a t i o n a l scientific relations, t h e w o r k of n o t a b l e scientists a n d scholars, a n d on m a t t e r s of scientific policy a n d o r g a n - i z a t i o n . I n a d d i t i o n , scientific b i b l i o g r a p h i e s a r e issued, a n d t h e Accession list of foreign publications is also published b y t h e D e p a r t m e n t in 10 issues a n n u a l l y .

A staircase t h a t opens 011 t o t h e c o u r t y a r d leads u p t o t h e Department of Manuscripts and Old Books l o c a t e d on t h e first f l o o r . T h e D e p a r t m e n t consists of f o u r i n t e r c o m m u n i c a t i n g r o o m s each f u r n i s h e d like a n old one-room l i b r a r y (Fig. 16). The f i r s t of t h e m is a r e a d i n g room f o r 8 readers. All r o u n d t h e walls, in closed glass b o o k c a s e s , a r e s h e l v e d old m a n u s c r i p t s a n d b o o k s p r i n t e d or p u b l i s h e d in H u n g a r y up t o 1711 a n d works p u b l i s h e d a b r o a d which a r e in H u n g a r i a n or a r e w r i t t e n h y H u n g a r i a n a u t h o r s or deal w i t h H u n g a r y , H u n - g a r i a n men or H u n g a r i a n c o n d i t i o n s . I n t h e c o r n e r of t h e f i r s t room is a s e p a - r a t e fire-proof c a b i n e t with safes. A wooden s t a i r c a s e leads u p t o t h e g a l l e r y w h i c h also houses a n u m b e r of m a n u s c r i p t s a n d o t h e r m a t e r i a l .

T h e L i b r a r y of t h e A c a d e m y has, f r o m i t s v e r y inception, collected n o t o n l y p r i n t e d m a t t e r , b u t also manuscripts, i n c l u d i n g codices, old m a n u s c r i p t s , d o c u m e n t s , r e c o r d s , collections of historical sources, l i t e r a r y a n d scientific r e l i q u i a of e v e r y k i n d which w e r e collected w i t h o u t a n y well-defined scope.

T o m a n a g e this h e t e r o g e n e o u s m a t e r i a l , a D e p a r t m e n t of M a n u s c r i p t s was set u p in 1916 u n d e r t h e guidance of Floris R o m e r , t h e archaeologist a n d a r c h i v i s t , w h o a r r a n g e d t h e m a t e r i a l in 16 s u b j e c t fields. T h e older m a t e r i a l is still a r -

r a n g e d a c c o r d i n g t o his classification. S e p a r a t e old loose-leaf catalogues contain t h e catalogue p a g e s of m a n u s c r i p t s a n d of t h e correspondence m a t e - rial. N o w these c a t a l o g u e s are m o r e simple.

I n t h e reading r o o m of t h e D e p a r t m e n t a show-case is p l a c e d parallel with t h e r e a d i n g desks. I t s glasses a r e covered w i t h green felt t o p r e s e r v e t h e precious h a n d w r i t t e n n a t i o n a l values f r o m light. T h e s e include a P r a y e r - h o o k of B e n i g n a Magyar w r i t t e n in H u n g a r i a n in 1513 (Fig. 17) a n d t h e t h i c k Érsekújvári-Codex, also w r i t t e n in H u n g a r y a t t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e s i x t e e n t h c e n t u r y ( F i g . 18). I t w a s copied on t h e Isle of R a b b i t s (which is t h e f o r m e r n a m e of t h e M a r g a r e t - I s l a n d t h a t lies b e t w e e n B u d a a n d Pest). One of t h e pages bears t h e n a m e of t h e copying n u n : M á r t a S ö v é n y h á z i . T h e L i b r a r y ' s o n l y C o r v i n - c o d e x is also p l a c e d here: t h e w o r k of L u d o v i c u s C a r b o : De laudibus Matthiae Regis (Fig. 19). I t s silk b i n d i n g is disintegrating, h u t t h e codex itself is u n h a r m e d , its gilding gleams, a n d b e a r s t h e c o a t - o f - a r m s of t h e H u n y a d i d y n a s t y , r e p r e s e n t i n g a r a v e n holding a ring. A n o t h e r t r e a s u r e of t h e L i b r a r y is t h e Liber de septem signis t h a t h a d b e e n t a k e n t o t h e C o r v i n a - l i b r a r y f r o m K i n g S i g i s m u n d ' s collection (Fig. 20). A t present t h i s codex is p l a c e d on de- posit a t t h e Museum of F i n e Arts.

T h i s D e p a r t m e n t h a s 125 codices, 85 of t h e m m e d i a e v a l . A m o n g t h e m are t w e l v e m a n u s c r i p t s b e a r i n g m e d i a e v a l records of t h e H u n g a r i a n language.

T h e s h o w - c a s e displays t h e following m a n u s c r i p t s of our g r e a t writers a n d , poets: a L a t i n letter of Miklós Zrínyi, t h e soldier-poet who d e f e a t e d t h e T u r k s e a r e p o r t t o t h e A c a d e m y b y S á n d o r K ö r ö s i C'soma (Fig. 42), t h e a u t h o r of t h f first T i b e t a n g r a m m a r , a d r a w i n g b y K a z i n c z y , t h e neologist a n d organiser oe H u n g a r i a n literature, t h a t he drew l o o k i n g out of t h e window of his jail, w h e r . he h a d b e e n imprisoned f o r d i s s e m i n a t i n g t h e ideas of t h e F r e n c h R e v o l u t i o n , J á n o s B a t s á n y i was also b a n i s h e d t o L i n z a t t h e e n d of t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y : because of his r e v o l u t i o n a r y ideas. T h e call a t t h e e n d of his p o e m reads

„ K e e p y o u r w a t c h f u l e y e s on P a r i s " (Fig. 21). T h e f i r s t , c o r r e c t e d version oi V ö r ö s m a r t y ' s „Szózat", a p o e m t h a t is H u n g a r y ' s second n a t i o n a l a n t h e m , is also e x h i b i t e d here, as well as t h e m a n u s c r i p t of J á n o s A r a n y ' s excellent t r a n s - lations of A r i s t o p h a n e s , a n d t h e m a n u s c r i p t of t h e Tragedy of Man b y Madách w i t h t h e corrections of A r a n y (Fig. 24). T h e D e p a r t m e n t t o o k over all

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t h e m a n u s c r i p t of t h e f o u n d e r of t h e A c a d e m y f r o m t h e f o r m e r Széchenyi- Museum of t h e A c a d e m y . T h e r e is also a l e t t e r of L a j o s K o s s u t h dealing w i t h t h e d e a t h of f a v o u r a n d t h e connections of H u n g a r i a n refugees with h i m (Fig. 25). I n a n o t h e r m a n u s c r i p t , in a n e a t h a n d , I g n á c Semmelweis, t h e ,,saver of m o t h e r s ' lives" r e p o r t e d t o t h e A c a d e m y on t h e m e t h o d s of defence against p u e r p e r a l fever (Fig. 33). T h e n t h e r e is t h e first poetical e x c h a n g e of letters b e t w e e n t h e f r a t e r n a l f r i e n d s of H u n g a r i a n l i t e r a t u r e of t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y , S á n d o r P e t ő f i , w h o is most k n o w n a b r o a d , a n d o u r g r e a t e s t epic p o e t J á n o s A r a n y whose c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y H u n g a r i a n verse is p r a c t i c a l l y u n t r a n s - latable. I n his first l e t t e r P e t ő f i writes t h e s e n t e n c e k n o w n as t h e i r c o m m o n poetical p r o g r a m : „If t h e p e o p l e will b u t rule in p o e t r y , t h e y will be n e a r t o ruling in politics t o o . " (Fig. 22—23).

M a n u s c r i p t s of t h e g r e a t e s t H u n g a r i a n prose w r i t e r s a r e also p r e s e r v e d h e r e w i t h t h e small l e t t e r s of t h e g r e a t r o m a n t i c n o v e l i s t , Mór J ó k a i ; K á l m á n M i k s z á t h ' s b a c k w a r d s l o p i n g letters (Fig. 26), l e t t e r s of Z s i g m o n d Móricz (Fig. 28), a n d E n d r e A d y , t h e great l y r i s t (Fig. 27). T h e r e a r e also letters b y Ferenc L i s z t (Fig. 29) a n d Béla B a r t ó k (Fig. 30). Of o u r scientists, m a n u - scripts of Á n y o s Jedlik (Fig. 32), t h e i n v e n t o r of t h e d y n a m o a n d electric m o t o r , are p r e s e r v e d as well as t h o s e of t h e e p o n y m of t h e U n i v e r s i t y of B u d a p e s t , L o r á n d E ö t v ö s , t h e d i s c o v e r e r of t h e geophysical i n s t r u m e n t b e a r i n g his n a m e , t h e torsion b a l a n c e (Fig. 34).

T h e D e p a r t m e n t h a s t a k e n over t h e older p o r t i o n s of t h e archives of t h e A c a d e m y a n d also t h o s e of t h e K i s f a l u d y Society w h i c h was, in its d a y a n i m p o r t a n t l i t e r a r y a s s o c i a t i o n .

D o c t o r a l a n d C a n d i d a t e ' s theses also c o n s t i t u t e a c o n t i n u o u s l y growing p a r t of t h e D e p a r t m e n t . I n t h e f u t u r e , l i t e r a r y reliquia of scholars will be t h e main i t e m s t o be collected.

F o r e i g n visitors h a v e o f t e n i n q u i r e d a b o u t t h e f o r m e r Elischer's Goethe- Museum. T h i s Museum fell victim t o t h e Second W o r l d W a r , b u t t h e m a n u - scripts l u c k i l y escaped d e s t r u c t i o n a n d a r e now also t r e a s u r e d possessions of t h e D e p a r t m e n t ,

T h e Collection o] Old Books is l o c a t e d in r o o m s c o m m o n w i t h t h e D e p a r t - m e n t of M a n u s c r i p t s . I t w a s set u p in 1954. T h e collection is a t p r e s e n t m a d e u p

of t h e following p a r t s : 1) I n c u n a b u l a ; 2) Old b o o k s a n d r a r i t i e s ( H u n g a r i a n p r i n t e d m a t t e r or t h a t of H u n g a r i a n i n t e r e s t issued prior t o 1711, Aldino- a n d Elzevir-editions); 3) F i r s t e d i t i o n s of n o t a b l e a u t h o r s , p r e s e n t a t i o n copies, a r t i s t i c or historical bindings, t h e p r i v a t e l i b r a r y of Mihály V ö r ö s m a r t y , e t c . ; 4) New acquisitions of b o o k s p u b l i s h e d a b r o a d p r i o r t o 1800 a n d in H u n g a r y b e f o r e 1850. T h e collection c o n t a i n s 1109 i n c u n a b u l a .

All t h e t itles of t h e f o u r p a r t s of t h e collection a r e listed i n a common c a t a l o g u e a r r a n g e d in a l p h a b e t i c a l a n d chronological order.

Of t h e i t e m s of t h e Old Book Collection c o n t a i n i n g m a t t e r s of H u n g a r i a n i n t e r e s t , m e n t i o n m u s t b e m a d e of Chronica Hungarorum ( A u g s b u r g 1488) b y J á n o s T h u r ó c z i t h a t c o n s t i t u e s a n i m p o r t a n t source for t h e Age of t h e H u n y a d i s (Fig. 38), a n d of a w o r k of P e l b á r t T e m e s v á r i e n t i t l e d Pomerium de tempore issued in A u g s b u r g in 1502 a n d d i s s e m i n a t e d all o v e r E u r o p e . T h e t i t l e p a g e of t h i s w o r k is a r e m a r k a b l e w o o d c u t (Fig. 39). An i m p o r t a n t i t e m is t h e f i r s t b o o k p u b l i s h e d e n t i r e l y in H u n g a r i a n : T h e Epistles of St. Paid, b y B e n e d e k K o m j á t h i (Cracow, 1533) (Fig. 40).

One of t h e m o s t v a l u a b l e p a r t s of t h e collection of old b o o k s was also o b t a i n e d b y t h e L i b r a r y b y w a y of d o n a t i o n . I n 1905 György R á t h , director of t h e H u n g a r i a n M u s e u m of A p p l i e d A r t s , b e q u e a t h e d his collection of nearly 2500 v o l u m e s t o t h e L i b r a r y , e m b r a c i n g books w i t h a m a t e u r b i n d i n g s , p a r t of w h i c h was p r i n t e d in H u n g a r y b e f o r e 1711, while t h e rest w e r e published a b r o a d , a b o u t H u n g a r y .

A p a r t f r o m this collection, o t h e r pieces of t h e Old Book Collection were in a v e r y p o o r condition, w i t h d i s i n t e g r a t i n g v o l u m e s , worn a n d s l a s h e d leather bindings, b r o k e n wooden b o a r d s a n d repairs a n d new b i n d i n g s d o n e w i t h o u t e x p e r t knowledge. T h i s m a d e it n e c e s s a r y t o set a b o u t t h e work of conserving a n d r e s t o r i n g t h e m a t e r i a l . T h e b o o k s also h a d t o b e p r o t e c t e d a g a i n s t insects a n d m o u l d . A f t e r a c a r e f u l s t u d y i n g of t h e foreign — m a i n l y I t a l i a n — a n d H u n g a r i a n l i t e r a t u r e of t h i s s u b j e c t , t h e work b e g a n w i t h highly skilled collab- o r a t o r s six y e a r s ago. T h e b o o k b i n d i n g shop of t h e L i b r a r y , s e t u p in 1958, also t a k e s a considerable p a r t in t h i s work.

Some 500 v o l u m e s h a v e so f a r b e e n restored a n d conserved. I n t h e course of t h i s work we did not aim a t bibliophile perfection. O u r t a s k w a s t o preserve

21

for p o s t e r i t y all the v a l u e s left t o us b y previous a g e s . We m a y t h u s speak of c o n s e r v a t i o n rather t h a n of r e s t o r a t i o n in this f a c e t of our work. W h e r e new b i n d i n g s h a d to he m a d e we insisted o n two m a i n f e a t u r e s : t h e n e w b i n d i n g must b e a b l e to c o n s e r v e t h e m a t e r i a l f o r f u r t h e r c e n t u r i e s , a n d it m u s t be in h a r m o n y w i t h the g e n e r a l effect of t h e collection (Fig. 51—52).

T h e work of r e s t o r a t i o n s o m e t i m e s p r o v i d e s v a l u a b l e s u r p r i s e s : we s u c c e e d e d in steeping a o n e folio i n c u n a b l e c a l e n d a r d a t i n g f r o m 1483 out of a book c o v e r (Fig. 36), while from a n o t h e r one we g a i n e d a p l a y i n g - c a r d f r o m 1570 ( F i g . 37).

T h e r e is also a s h o w - c a s e in t h e last room of t h e D e p a r t m e n t of M a n u - scripts a n d Old Books, c o n t a i n i n g r a r i t i e s of the collections. This r o o m belonged to t h e a p a r t m e n t of t h e g r e a t G e n e r a l S e c r e t a r y of t h e A c a d e m y , .János A r a n y , the p o e t . His m e m o r y is p r e s e r v e d b y t h e old s t o v e , t h e p o e t ' s a r m c h a i r a n d his p i c t u r e on the wall.

R e t u r n i n g to t h e g r o u n d - f l o o r of t h e A c a d e m y , t h e visitor m a y e n t e r t h e Oriental Department. I t w a s opened in 1951. T h e s t o c k of t h e m a t e r i a l collected here w a s c o n s t i t u t e d b y t h e o r i e n t a l i t e m s which h a d been f o u n d w i t h i n t h e v a r i o u s s u b j e c t areas o f t h e m a i n s t a c k of the L i b r a r y . T h e T i b e t a n m a n u - scripts of Sándor K ö r ö s i Csorna c a m e t o H u n g a r y b y w a y of T i v a d a r D u k a , a m e d i c a l colonel in I n d i a (Fig. 43). A collection of T u r k i s h codices was d o n a t e d b y Á r m i n V á m b é r y ( F i g . 45). — D a v i d K a u f m a n n b e q u e a t h e d b y will to t h e A c a d e m y his collection of H e b r e w b r o o k s a n d m a n u s c r i p t s of g r e a t i n t e r n a t i o - nal v a l u e (Fig. 44). L a t e r on S á n d o r Kégl's l i b r a r y of P e r s i a n a n d Sanscrit books, a n d the p r i v a t e collection of Sir Marc A u r e l Stein was i n c o r p o r a t e in t h e O r i e n t a l D e p a r t m e n t , — as h e wrote in h i s will: ,,in t o k e n of m y g r a t e f u l r e m e m b r a n c e of t h e help I received f r o m t h e l a t t e r ( A c a d e m y ) as a s t u d e n t a n d of the e n c o u r a g e m e n t w h i c h the A c a d e m y a c c o r d e d m e as one of its m e m b e r s . "

T h e e n t r y t o t h e Oriental D e p a r t m e n t is t h r o u g h a r e a d i n g room, a c c o m m o d a t i n g 8 r e a d e r s . Its g a l l e r y is of near e a s t e r n style, t h e panelling being d e c o r a t e d with m o t i f s t a k e n f r o m t h e a r c h i t e c t u r e of t h e I s l a m (Fig. 41).

A reference l i b r a r y housed in t h i s room gives i n f o r m a t i o n s a b o u t t h e c u l t u r e s a n d peoples of I n d i a , I r a n , t h e Caucasus, t h e ancient N e a r E a s t , Israel

a n d hebraistics, E g y p t , Africa, T u r k e y , M o n g o l i a n and A l t a i c languages, C h i n a , I n d o c h i n a , T i b e t , J a p a n , I n d o n e s i a a n d Oceania. T h e i n n e r r o o m , n a m e d a f t e r S á n d o r K ö r ö s i Csorna, houses a l i b r a r y of some 2 0 0 0 works, con- t a i n i n g o r i e n t a l codices. 600 of t h e m belong t o t h e K a u f m a n n - c o l l e c t i o n . A m o n g t h e n o t e w o r t h y T i b e t a n m a n u s c r i p t s a n d x y l o g r a p h i c m a t e r i a l s a r e t he reliquia of S á n d o r Körösi Csorna which s e r v e d him as s o u r c e s in w r i t i n g his f a m o u s T i b e t a n d i c t i o n a r y a n d g r a m m a r , s p e n d i n g 11 y e a r s in cold l a m a m o n a s t e r i e s . M e n t i o n m u s t be m a d e of t h e considerable s c i e n t i f i c correspond- ence of I g n á c G o l d z i h c r comprising m o r e t h a n 10.000 items.

T h e Microfilm Collection and Photographic Laboratory w a s s e t u p in 1953.

A t f i r s t t h e w o r k w a s done with o n l y one or t w o cameras. A s u d d e n consider- a b l e d e v e l o p m e n t t o o k place, h o w e v e r , d u e to t h e modern e q u i p m e n t given b y U N E S C O in 1957. T h e L a b o r a t o r y can now e n g a g e in m a n i f o l d a n d conti-

n u o u s w o r k b y m e a n s of its h i g h - c a p a c i t y microfilm c a m e r a s , a u t o m a t i c developing m a c h i n e , c o n t i n u o u s m i c r o f i l m p r i n t e r , rapid c o p y i n g e q u i p m e n t , o p t i c a l p h o t o c o p y i n g a p p a r a t u s , microfiche a p p a r a t u s , t r a n s p o r t a b l e micro- f i l m i n g e q u i p m e n t , h a n d c a m e r a s of various types, e n l a r g e r s a n d o t h e r e q u i p m e n t t o f a c i l i t a t e p h o t o d u p l i c a t i n g w o r k . T h e microfilm service d e a l s w i t h a c o n s i d e r a b l e q u a n t i t y of o r d e r s , b o t h f o r e i g n and d o m e s t i c , for micro- films a n d p h o t o c o p i e s .

A p a r t f r o m s a t i s f y i n g t h e s e orders, t h e l a b o r a t o r y p e r m a n e n t l y copies t h e most v a l u a b l e holdings of t h e L i b r a r y . I n a d d i t i o n , p h o t o duplication is u s e d t o a u g m e n t t h e L i b r a r y . T h e collection comprise, a m o n g o t h e r s , micro- film copies of old H u n g a r i a n b o o k rarities, C o r v i n codices a b r o a d , o r i e n t a l m a n u s c r i p t s , a n d consists of m i c r o f i l m s of m o r e t h a n 3000 w o r k s a s of the e n d of 1959. A n a l p h a b e t i c a l catalogue a n d a c a t a l o g u e of origin s e r v e s the r e a d e r , a n d several microfilm readers a r e a t his disposal.

23

I l l

I N T E R N A T I O N A L E X C H A N G E R E L A T I O N S OF T H E A C A D E M Y

V X he f o u n d e r s of t h e H u n g a r i a n A c a d e m y of Sciences p l a n n e d a n d c o n s i d e r e d exchanges a s a n i m p o r t a n t m e a n s f o r c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n the A c a d e m i e s .

S o o n a f t e r the f o u n d a t i o n , the o r g a n i z a t i o n of i n t e r n a t i o n a l cont r a c t s com- menced. I n 1832—33 a n a c a d e m i c i a n , w h o had b e e n t r a v e l l i n g a b r o a d , e s t a b - lished t h e f i r s t e x c h a n g e r e l a t i o n with t h e P h i l o s o p h i c a l Society of P h i l a d e l p h i a .

T h e f i r s t v o l u m e o f t h e Y e a r b o o k of t h e A c a d e m y , t h a t h a d b e g u n its p u b l i c a t i o n in 1833, w a s s e n t to t h e l e a r n e d societies l i s t e d below b y t b e v i r t u e of a d e c i s i o n o f t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y : I n s t i t u t F r a n g a i s , R o y a l S o c i e t y of L o n d o n a n d E d i n b u r g h , A m e r i c a n P h i l o s o p h i c a l S o c i e t y , B a y e r i s c h e A k a d e - mie, G ö t t i n g i s c h e A k a d e m i e , D e u t s c h e A k a d e m i e d e r W i s s e n s c h a f t e n zu Berlin, A c a d e m y of S t . P e t e r s b u r g . N e x t year t h e A c a d e m y of F l o r e n c e , t h e A r c h a e o l o g i c a l A c a d e m y of Rome a n d t h e R o y a l S w e d i s h A c a d e m y were e n t e r e d o n t h e mailing l i s t . These e x c h a n g e c o n s i g n m e n t s c o n s t i t u t e d the^begin- ning of t h e L i b r a r y ' s r e g u l a r e x c h a n g e a c t i v i t y .

A c i r c u l a r sent w i t h t h e first e x c h a n g e m a t e r i a l l a i d down a p r i n c i p l e t h a t is v a l i d t o this d a y , t h a t t h e m u t u a l sending of p u b l i c a t i o n s w a s r e g a r d e d both a s t h e c o o p e r a t i o n of peoples e a r i n g for t h e a r t s a n d sciences, a n d as a device f o r m u t u a l s c i e n t i f i c assistance.

C o u n t I s t v á n S z é c h e n y i , the f o u n d e r o f t h e A c a d e m y , in t h e c o u r s e of his j o u r n e y s , m a d e to p r e p a r e t h e way f o r d o m e s t i c c u l t u r a l a n d e c o n o m i c a l re- forms, a l s o m a d e e f f o r t s t o establish e x c h a n g e r e l a t i o n s with o t h e r foreign A c a d e m i e s . O n r e t u r n i n g h e reported t h a t t h e e x c h a n g e c o p y o f t h e B a y e r i s c h e

A k a d e m i e h a d b e e n p e r s o n a l l y h a n d e d o v e r t o Schelling, t h a t of t h e I n s t i t u t F r a n y a i s t o G a y - L u s s a c , a n d t h a t of t h e R o y a l S o c i e t y of L o n d o n t o t h e L u k e of Sussex, a n d a t t h e sessions of t h e societies of P a r i s a n d L o n d o n ho h a d r e c o m m e n d e d t h e t h e n y o u n g A c a d e m y t o t h e i r goodwill.

B o t h t h e f o u n d e r s a n d F e r e n c T o l d y , t h e f i r s t d i r e c t o r of t h e L i b r a r y s o o n r e c o g n i z e d t h e i m p o r t a n c e of t h e s e f o r e i g n r e l a t i o n s i n r e s p e c t t o t h e A c a d e m y a n d t h e L i b r a r y .

T h e t r a g i c d e f e a t of t h e s t r u g g l e f o r f r e e d o m of 1848/49 p a r a l y z e d t h e H u n g a r i a n wTorld of l e a r n i n g , a n d also t h e L i b r a r y ' s f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t . W h i l e in 1838 collectors a n d scholars g a v e 164 b o o k s t o t h e L i b r a r y , t h e t o t a l n u m b e r of b o o k s received a s a g i f t in 1849 w a s t w o . E x c h a n g e relations, h o w e v e r , c o n t i n u e d a n d e x p a n d e d e v e n i n t h e s e h a r d t i m e s .

A c o n s i d e r a b l e d e c l i n e was c a u s e d in t h i s r e s p e c t b y t h e F i r s t W o r l d W a r . While i n 1913 t h e A c a d e m y h a d b e e n m a i n t a i n i n g e x c h a n g e relations w i t h 287 i n s t i t u t e s a b r o a d , i n 1918 n o t m o r e t h a n 87 i n s t i t u t e s m a i n t a i n e d t h e s e r e l a t i o n s .

D u r i n g t h e y e a r s a f t e r t h e w a r — a s t h e r e w e r e n o m a t e r i a l t h a t could b e sent o u t i n e x c h a n g e — t h e L i b r a r y could n o t t a k e u p i t s i n t e r r u p t e d e x c h a n g e r e l a t i o n s . T h e r e w e r e , h o w e v e r , i n s t i t u t i o n s such u s t h e A c a d e m i e s of L o n d o n , E d i n b u r g h a n d R o m e , t h a t c o n t i n u e d s e n d i n g t h e i r p u b l i c a t i o n s w i t h o u t a n y c o m p e n s a t i o n .

D u r i n g t h e t h i r t i e s a n d forties e x c h a n g e a g r e e m e n t s w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h 450 i n s t i t u t i o n s . T h i s w a s all t h e m o r e i m p o r t a n t a s t h e t h e n l e a d e r s h i p of t h e A c a d e m y did n o t d e v e l o p t h e L i b r a r y b y p u r c h a s i n g a n y b o o k s a t all, a n d t h u s e x c h a n g e c o n s t i t u t e d t h e o n l y p o s s i b i l i t y of o b t a i n i n g t h e m o d e r n sci- e n t i f i c m a t e r i a l needed. T h e L i b r a r y , d e s p i t e t h e c o n t e m p o r a r y g o v e r n m e n t ' s n a r r o w - m i n d e d , c h a u v i n i s t i c a t t i t u d e t o c u l t u r a l policy, c o n t i n u e d m a i n t a i n i n g i t s b r o a d e x c h a n g e r e l a t i o n s i n those y e a r s t o o . T h i s c a n b e well seen f r o m t h e f a c t t h a t t h e L i b r a r y e s t a b l i s h e d r e g u l a r a n d e v e r d e v e l o p i n g e x c h a n g e rela- t i o n s with t h e a c a d e m i c c e n t e r s of t h e S o v i e t U n i o n (Moscow, L e n i n g r a d , K i e v , etc.) a n d w i t h t h e a c a d e m i e s of t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g s t a t e s .

T h e S e c o n d World W a r a g a i n i n t e r r u p t e d t h i s b r o a d e x c h a n g e a c t i v i t y . A f t e r t h e L i b e r a t i o n , h o w e v e r , t h e s i t u a t i o n g r a d u a l l y i m p r o v e d . I n 1946—1949

t h e L i b r a r y e x c h a n g e d w i t h t h e A c a d e m y ' s „ A c t a " of six k i n d s . T h e s e A c t a c o n t a i n e d articles in R u s s i a n , E n g l i s h , F r e n c h a n d G e r m a n .

A s u d d e n d e v e l o p m e n t took p l a c e i n 1950, on t h e occasion of t h e r e o r g a n - ization of t h e A c a d e m y , w h i c h o r g a n i z e d t h e r e g u l a r p u b l i c a t i o n of s c i e n t i f i c works a n d — in a d d i t i o n — b e g a n t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of n e w A c t a , T h i s e n a b l e d t h e L i b r a r y t o e n l a r g e t h e scope of i t s e x c h a n g e s a n d r a i s e t h e i r level. B y t h e end of 1950 e x c h a n g e r e l a t i o n s w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h 480 f o r e i g n i n s t i t u t i o n s , a n d b y 1957 this n u m b e r was t r e b l e d . N o w a d a y s e x c h a n g e a c t i v i t i e s i n v o l v e more t h a n 1700 i n s t i t u t i o n s of 80 s t a t e s (Fig. 53). A t p r e s e n t 40 p e r c e n t of t h e L i b r a r y ' s accessions of b o o k s a n d 80 p e r c e n t of t h e p e r i o d i c a l s a r c o b t a i n e d by e x c h a n g e .

W i t h t h e r e o r g a n i z a t i o n of t h e A c a d e m y t h e L i b r a r y w a s g i v e n t h e t a s k of s e n d i n g t h e a c h i e v e m e n t s of H u n g a r i a n scientific r e s e a r c h w o r k t o l e a r n e d societies a b r o a d in t h e f o r m of r e g u l a r e x c h a n g e . T h i s is e s s e n t i a l , b e c a u s e o u r p u b l i c a t i o n s in H u n g a r i a n are o n l y s l i g h t l y read a b r o a d , on a c c o u n t of d i f f i - culties d u e t o t h e l a n g u a g e . Our r e s e a r c h workers o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , c a n b e - come a c q u a i n t e d with t h e a d v a n c e s a n d m e t h o d s of s c i e n t i f i c w o r k p e r f o r m e d in all p a r t s of t h e w o r l d t h r o u g h t h e m a t e r i a l r e c e i v e d . T h u s t h e L i b r a r y h a s to k e e p a n eye b o t h on t h e needs of t h e A c a d e m y , a n d o n its p r i n c i p l e s r e l a t i n g to a c q u i s i t i o n s . At t h e s a m e t i m e it h a s t o develop its i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s with l i b r a r i e s on a l a r g e scale, a p a r t f r o m e x c h a n g e s , a n d e f f o r t s m u s t b e m a d e to a i d t h e economically u n d e r d e v e l o p e d c o u n t r i e s w i t h specialist l i t e r a t u r e .

T h e m a i n p u r p o s e s of t h e L i b r a r y ' s e x c h a n g e a c t i v i t y a r e :

(1) p e r f o r m i n g t h e e x c h a n g e of t h e A c a d e m y ' s p u b l i c a t i o n s (Acta a n d books p u b l i s h e d by t h e A c a d e m y ) b y b i l a t e r a l a g r e e m e n t ;

(2) t o carry o u t t h e t a s k s r e s u l t i n g f r o m t h e c u l t u r a l e x c h a n g e s a s s u r e d by i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l a n d i n t e r - a c a d e m i c a g r e e m e n t s w i t h t h e f r i e n d l y n a t i o n s . Beside t h i s it c o o r d i n a t e s t h e e x c h a n g e a c t i v i t i e s of t h e i n s t i t u t i o n a l l i b r a r y s y s t e m of t h e A c a d e m y , a n d p e r f o r m s — h y special a g r e e m e n t s — t h e e x c h a n g e of n o n - a c a d e m i c scient ific p u b l i c a t i o n s f o r its p a r t n e r s a b r o a d .

N e w t a s k s r e q u i r e d new m e t h o d s . Besides t h e e x c h a n g e of p e r i o d i c a l s , t h a t of t h e books h a s a l s o been d e v e l o p e d since 1954. S u p p l y i n g t h e l a r g e foreign l i b r a r i e s with i n f o r m a t i o n s o n b o o k s t o c o m e h a s also b e e n o r g a n i z e d .