Devolopment strategy of the library system of Hungary

Abstract

The author formulates a library development strategy based on three important conditions.
(1) In Hungary, a relatively well functioning library system exists with the characteristic components of national special libraries/information centres and county libraries, in addition to university and local public libraries. The foundation of the future library system should be this existing structure. (2) The global trends of computer and telecommunication technology development point to the proliferation of the electronic-digital and global virtual library. Longterm coexistence of library services storing and providing information on printed and electronic documents can be predicted, with a growing role of the latter. Based on recent results in Hungary, the development of electronic libraries should be continued. (3) Libraries face financial problems all over the world. This challenge cannot be solved simply by relying on government sponsorship for free access to knowledge and information. In the future, the load of financing should be shared between government budget, business and actual users.
The consequence of all these is the changed role of libraries, i.e. they should be converted to dynamic knowledge and information suppliers.