On the 31st of August 2023, the ELTE University Library and Archives organised the eleventh conference entitled Traditions and Challenges. This year's programme included presentations on the themes of Artificial Intelligence and Library Automation and Public Collections in Network.

Our event was attended by a wide range of participants, with more than 120 guests, practitioners, academics and students, as well as representatives of service partners and sponsors. The attendees were welcomed by Dr. Kulcsár Szabó Ernőné Gombos Annamária, Director General of the ELTE University Library and Archives, and Dr. László Borhy, Rector of the Eötvös Loránd University.

Following the opening speeches, Dr. Lénárd Darázs, Vice Rector for General Affairs of Eötvös Loránd University, gave a presentation on the Ethical and Legal Framework for the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence. László Garamvölgyi, Deputy Director General of the ELTE University Library and Archives, presented the institution's service enhancements supported by automation. Dr. Sándor Soós, Head of the Science Policy and Science Analysis Division of the Library and Information Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, presented the challenges of science metrics analysis and database services. The plenary session was closed with a presentation by Bea Winkler, Director of the Hutÿra Ferenc Library, Archives and Museum and Assistant Professor of the ELTE Institute of Library and Information Science entitled Artificial Intelligence: 67 years, 67 days, 67 seconds – The opportunities and challenges of an ever faster changing world for librarians.

In the afternoon session on Artificial Intelligence and Library Automation, moderated by Bea Winkler, Ádám Parti, Head of Department (Library of Parliament) gave an insight into the inventory work of the Library of Parliament using RFID, István Udvardy, Managing Director (SmartFreq Kft.) gave a presentation on RFID-enabled library automation, Tünde Szabó, deputy director (Méliusz Juhász Péter Library) informed the audience about personalized library services and their book recommendation system. Dániel Takács, Head Librarian (ELTE Law Faculty Library), presented the topic entitled Artificial? Intelligence?, digital content developers Kata Ágnes Szűcs and Eszter Simon (National Széchényi Library Digital Humanities Centre) gave a presentation on dHUpla: from manuscript to automatic language processing.

The session entitled Public Collections in Networks was moderated by Dóra Gaálné Kalydy, Deputy Director General of the Library and Information Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and firstly Gábor Szeberényi, Director General (University of Pécs Library and Knowledge Centre), shared his experiences at the University of Pécs on the topic of integrated networking and library services.  Georgina Schlay, Museologist (ELTE University Library and Archives) presented the work carried out in the framework of the University Heritage Coordination. Katalin Kelemenné Farkas (Klebelsberg Kuno Library of the University of Szeged) gave a presentation on the operation and development of MOKKA-R, while Krisztina Bergmann, Library Director (Library of Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Needs Education) gave an insight into the process of developing the quality assurance system of the ELTE library network, the main organisational changes and achievements of the last fifteen years. The session was closed by a presentation of Attila Szendi, Director General (University of Miskolc Library, Archives, Museum) entitled Library, Archives and Museum – integrated operational experiences.

The conference was supported by the University Library Foundation, the Hungarian Librarians' Association, the Scientific and Professional Library Section, ProQuest and Tripont. Abstracts of the presentations are available on our website. The ELTE University Library and Archives is planning to publish a conference volume on the 11th Professional Day „Traditions and Challenges”, which will be available in electronic form in the ELTE EDIT repository.

At the fourth quarterly report of the K21 Quality Coordination Committee 2023, the leaders of the working groups reported on the results of the past quarter, ongoing work and changes.

The Quality Management Handbook has been reviewed and improved, the chapters on communication have been partially revised, and the workflow review and strategy finalisation are underway. The data from the 2023 Student Needs and Satisfaction Survey have been aggregated with the assistance of the Primary Research Working Group and the analysis is being improved and revised.

The Process Management Working Group has completed the tasks related to the terms of reference and the library leaders have defined the key processes of the University Library Service (ULS).

The Communication Working Group provided information on the tasks and achievements of the K21 Quality Coordination Committee through our website, newsletter and short film entitled „3 months – 3 minutes”, and contributed to the success of the preparation and administration of the K21 reporting days meetings.

In the autumn, the Green Library Working Group organised an awareness-raising training, with lectures entitled „Go Green Library!” and Green Libraries – an international perspective, thought-provoking discussions and a quiz.

Library leaders held five meetings in the fourth quarter to discuss, among other issues, the revision of the performance appraisal system rating scale, the new quality objectives, the ULS terms of reference, key processes, the work plans of the Coordination Committees and the project to digitise paper-based theses.

The staff of the University Library Service participated in a strategy workshop this summer. Joint work is planned to continue in February 2024.

An update on the achievements of the K21 Quality Coordination Committee and our new developments will be posted on our website soon.

School libraries belonging to the ELTE library network can consult their documents in various databases. While maintaining these systems, the ELTE University Library and Archives developed a common search interface in 2011 within the framework of the TÁMOP-3.2.4/09/1/KMR-2010-0021 project, which can be accessed directly at https://gimikatalogus.elte.hu. It is also possible to access it from the common catalogue of ELTE libraries by clicking on the marked menu item:

The records of the libraries in the database:

• Apáczai Csere János Gyakorló Gimnázium Könyvtára (14 338 records),
• ELTE Gyakorló Általános Iskola és Középiskola Könyvtára (27 037 records), 
• Radnóti Miklós Gyakorlóiskola Könyvtára (37 872 records),
• Trefort Ágoston Gyakorlóiskola Könyvtára (34 265 records).

The conversion of school library databases is done at regular intervals. Once a year, usually in November-december, the data are updated to reflect changes (additions and deletions) from the previous year.

The Faculty of Social Sciences is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

On November 9, an all-day festive conference took place, which was also connected to a faculty history exhibition.

Some objects were displayed at the exhibition:

• publications since the establishment of the Faculty (both in the form of posters and books);
• small printouts related to the Faculty (admission information booklets, Doctoral School information booklets, student magazines – Kistáska TÁTKontúr);
• ex-libris (in the form of posters) in the books in the Faculty Library;
• teachers’ and professors’ nameplates that were previously used in the buildings on Pollack Mihály tér and Múzeum körút;
• and a briefcase used by Tibor Huszár.

The exhibition can be viewed in the lobby of the conference room in the basement of building A of the Lágymányosi Campus.

Since the historical documents and objects already in the Library's holdings and those that came to us this year were collected and organized in connection with the anniversary, the management of the Faculty decided, at the suggestion of the head of the library, to create a separate Faculty History Collection.

In connection with the anniversary, the historical documents and objects already existing in the Faculty Library and collected this year were organized, so the management of the Faculty decided, on the recommendation of the librarian, to create a Faculty Historical Collection.

Author: Krisztina Egri

Under the professional guidance of the ELTE University Library and Archives, the libraries of the University supported the Hungarian language education and the studies of the students at the Georgian sister institution with a donation of books, which provided the basis of the Hungarian Library Department of the Tbilisi State University, officially opened on the 12th of December 2023.

At the request of the Rector of Eötvös Loránd University, Dr. László Borhy and Ambassador Anna Mária Sikó, the Director General of the ELTE University Library and Archives, Dr. Kulcsár Szabó Ernőné Gombos Annamária with the University Library Service has been collecting books for the Hungarian Library of Tbilisi State University during the past year. A total of 272 volumes (148 literature books, 124 reference books) were donated to the Hungarian Library Department, which currently contains 358 books, partly from publications purchased by the ELTE University Library and Archives at the request of the Georgian University, partly from staff donations and from the ELTE libraries (including the Faculty Libraries of the Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Faculty of Social Sciences).

The book donation included cultural literature in Hungarian and English, art and architecture albums, gastronomy books, language books, textbooks on language and literature, and fiction in English and Hungarian. The majority of the teaching aids for the courses were provided to the University of Georgia by the Hungarian Language Training, Diaspora and Balassi Programmes Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary.

The department is unique in the country for the rich and extensive collection of Hungarian language and Hungarian-related books. In addition to openness to Hungarian culture and the dissemination of values, the parties are committed to further cooperation and the strengthening of international relations.

The object of the month – Coin cabinet

The ELTE Coin Cabinet was established by the Jesuits in Nagyszombat in 1753 and was originally located in the University Library, but today it is part of the Institute of Archaeological Sciences. The founder of the collection, Lieopold Fischer, not only donated numerous old coins to the collection, but also equipped it with three cabinets for their storage.

The largest is an inlaid, two-door cabinet (79 cm high, 65 cm wide, 50 cm deep) in Zopf style. It is made of pinewood covered with walnut veneer . The doors are decorated with inlayed elm and yew wood in an acanthus shape. The profiled edges are also made of walnut. In the larger, lower part of the cabinet, there are 11 veneered pinewood drawers specially designed for storing coins. A secret drawer has been hidden in the upper part of the curved profile, which is hidden behind the shield decorated with gilded acanthus.

Written by Lajos Juhász

In Christmas time 2023, Ildikó Balogh, the Public Services Department's Information Librarian, and Katalin Herendi, the Head of the General Secretariat, were awarded the Pro Bibliotheca Universitatis Certificate of Merit by the ELTE University Library and Archives, thanking them for their high quality and prestigious professional work.

Ildikó Balogh received the award for her high quality and conscientious professional work, for her outstanding role in the professional service and preservation of the University Library and Archives' museum collection. She has been working in the Public Services Department of the University Library and Archives since 2017, where she plays an important role in all work processes related to the museum collection, which is part of the national cultural heritage, in addition to her work in reader services. She is actively involved in the care and preservation of museum collections, in providing professional services for special collections materials and in answering questions from researchers. Provides useful assistance in the management of loans of artefacts and digital orders. Ildikó Balogh regularly organises old book presentations, which make a major contribution to the promotion and wider dissemination of our institution and our unique collection. Ildikó Balogh is a loyal employee of the ELTE University Library and Archives, who carries out her duties professionally, conscientiously and to a high standard.

Katalin Herendi's dedicated work – especially her activities in the planned and structured management, coordination and organization of the secretarial processes of the ELTE University Library and Archives, as well as the implementation of the selected strategic and grant projects – contributes significantly to the positive image and reputation of the ELTE University Library and Archives and our University. She has been carrying out her tasks with a high level of professionalism, conscientiousness and diligence. She is a loyal employee of the ELTE University Library and Archives, and regularly participates in the preparation and implementation of higher level decisions in order to maintain the reputation and prestige of the institution. She also makes great efforts to ensure the efficient functioning of the institution in the areas of management and administration, support for tendering activities, as well as salaries and human resources. The Library's financial management and data reporting is accurate and excellent. She is always active in the organisation, conduct and administration of management meetings, discussions, negotiations and workshops. Katalin Herendi can also be regularly counted on to manage relations and organisational matters between staff and departments. Her commitment to the library and to quality is reflected in her organised and efficient work.

The staff of the ELTE University Library and Archives wishes them every success and pleasure in their future endeavours!

The list of our honoured staff members is available here.

The ELTE University Library and Archives officially opened its new book vending machine to students on the 4th of December 2023 in the lobby of the Library Palace.

In his welcome speech, Dr. Péter Sziklai, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, welcomed the inauguration of the first ELTE book vending machine as another milestone in the development of the ELTE University Library and Archives. Modern technical innovations play an important role in the service, demonstrating openness to change and adaptation to technological advances. The new book check-out facility also demonstrates the University Library's commitment to the continuous expansion of its services to serve the university community.  

The Director General of the ELTE University Library and Archives, Dr. Kulcsár Szabó Ernőné Gombos Annamária, emphasized at the opening ceremony that the library's core values include openness to innovation and change in order to provide free access to information. In the last semester, with the support of the Student Union, the library’s opening hours were increased in the framework of a pilot project, which is now being maintained and extended to the end of the autumn semester and almost the entire examination period, from Monday to Friday between 9 am and 10 pm, and on Saturdays between 10 am and 10 pm.

The library aims to provide wider access by increasing the purchase of electronic literature, extending opening hours and providing automated solutions to enable students to access scientific textbooks more quickly and conveniently. The web application, the self-checkout machine, the free self-service scanning and printing all serve this purpose, including the new book acceptance machine that has just been officially inaugurated. These services are available from 7 a.m. on opening days.

The technical innovations introduced are meeting student demand, with last year's visitor numbers up 18% on the pre-pandemic peak year of 2019, and this year's numbers in the first 10 months of the year is already 22% higher than last year.

Listening to the needs of students is essential to improving library services, and the library will continue to strive to meet the needs of university citizens and readers. Thanking the ELTE Student Union for its cooperative support, the opening ceremony ended with the presentation of the book gifts hidden in the vending machines.