Libraries in the information management in Hungary, with special regard to the National Technical Library

Abstract

The overall social, economic and cultural crisis of Hungary has implied also that of our special library system and information services as a whole. The voluntaristcc socio-economic and production model that has existed for four and a half decade, did cause more than a mere financlng crisis in this subject area: in fact, one that has much deeper roots. Its consequences and damages in library and information fields can be compared to the devastation caused by a war that perhaps could never be fully restored. A characterization of the crisis of special libraries and of information services. an analysis of its reasons and consequences, and the evaluation of guidelines for crisis management are discussed. They are followed by an analysis of the holding and usage of the National Technlcal Library OMK, and projects are outlined aiming to compensate the negative trends.