Origins and recent developments in the training of technical libraries in Hungary

Abstract

During the past two decades several attempts were made in Hungary to establish various systems for the training of librarians. The report reviews the phases of this development, with a speciel eye on the training of technical librarians. A 2 1/2 year course for training the staff of research libraries and technical libraries is being organised since years by the Hungarian Central Teehnical Library and Documentation Centre. The evening section and the correspondence section of this speciel course provide knowledge in library (documentation) technique and in speciel fields of science and technology simultaneously, to meet the differentiated demands of technical libraries. Starting with the year 1966/67, the curriculum has been extended. The modifications are mainly reflected in changing the proportion of the varlous subjects: the practical use of technical documents, the abstracting and reviewing of special literature, the documentation services have come to the foreground, while the weight of the traditional phase of librarianship has diminished. Audio-viaual training is being introduced to a greater extent, and greater stress is laid on visits to libraries both in Hungary and abroad. A qualified special librarian has to have a full survey of the theoretical and practical phases of library work, in order to be able to fulfill independently all the differenciated tasks arising in thie special field, including that of the library director's.