Library law and library financing

Abstract

A substantial effect has been created by the changes in the economical and social circumstances on the operational and financial conditions of the library system in Hungary. In this context, several libraries have ceased to exist, government support has been cut or stopped for libraries that had been supported formerly by the budget etc. Basic functions, national, central and local services of the Hungarian libraries and bibliographic information services are discussed, and proposals are presented on which functions should be supported by the central government, which ones by local governments or by individuals. For the efficient operation of the library supply system, in addition to institutional maintenance and function financing by governmental sources, the incomes of the organizations should be returned for maintaining their services. Development tasks could be supported by national and international projects. Other topics in the study include library incomes as financial sources, human resource management, other forms of library support (tax and customs reduction, reduced mail and telecommunications tariffs etc), the effectiveness of public asset management, and relation of the library law with other laws.