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6 appealing libraries in Budapest every book lover must visit – PHOTOS
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Libraries are some of the calmest places one could imagine. It is the perfect choice for reading, working, studying, educating ourselves, and getting to know more about the world around us. However, oftentimes, these buildings are not only home to immeasurable knowledge but also have architectural value. In this list, we have collected six of the most impressive libraries in Budapest.
1. ELTE University Library and Archives (ELTE Egyetemi Könyvtár és Levéltár)
The library of ELTE houses approximately two million documents, making it the third-largest library in the Hungarian capital. The more than 450-year-old institution was founded by Archbishop Miklós Oláh of Esztergom, although originally in Nagyszombat, together with the Jesuit College. Soon afterwards, the library moved to Budapest. As we can learn from Funzine’s article, in the mid-19th century, the library was already visited by 35,000 readers a year.
Find the library here: 1053 Budapest, Ferenciek tere 6.
2. Szabó Ervin Library of Budapest (Fővárosi Szabó Ervin Könyvtár)
The Szabó Ervin Library is considered the largest public cultural institution in Budapest. Budapest’s first public library started its operations in 1904, known as the Capital City Library (Fővárosi Könyvtár) at the time. The huge library has been housed in the Wenckheim Palace on Reviczky Street since 1931. One of the first directors of the institution was Ervin Szabó, who later gave his name to the library.
Find the library here: 1088 Budapest, Szabó Ervin Square 1.
3. National Library of Foreign Literature and Music Collection (Országos Idegennyelvű Könyvtár és Zenei Gyűjtemény)
As we can read on their official website, the National Library of Foreign Literature is one of the youngest public research libraries in Hungary. It has been called National Library of Foreign Literature since 1989. It was established in 1956 under the name of “Gorkij State Library” and had originally operated as a Russian language library. Up to this point, an incomparable collection of foreign language materials has been developed nationwide. The institute was qualified as a national resource library in 1978 and later to an academic research centre.
Too bad that the article did not include modern libraries as well. With much lower ceilings that would indicate a true commitment to the environment on various levels, with modern art on the walls & easy care floors & furniture. Furniture that was inviting & could be huddled together for group gatherings such as when older folks teach crafts to younger or when they are helping students get their homework done (so that kids do not have to be latchkey kids alone until parents get home from work). For seniors to be more included in the community libraries need card tables for games afternoons once or twice weekly. And there needs to be a toy library so that poor families can borrow educational toys which tend to be very expensive for kids up to age 7. And if the library is near a rural community or vocational college, a tool lending library so that people can sign out equipment that they can show they understand the use of, but will only need for 1 project or 2. Libraries must evolve to keep asking for taxpayer $$$s and meet the needs of a modern society if they are to be valued. If the building is empty 80% of the time, it is not meeting needs of citizens of EVERY age.
Because I live in a rural community of mostly seniors who can afford to live in my area & I do not drive at all in winter I really appreciate that the village & town libraries which I belong to sell books which they no longer need. Some sell for $1 each, others sell for a coupel of dollars per grocery bag. When I stock up for winter on all of my paper-products, canned food, dry goods during bi-weekly shopping in good weather condition seasons I always stop at the library. I get as many books & magazines & periodicals from the ‘discard’ shelf unit & small table as is of interest to me. Sometimes books which I would not even be able to afford to buy in new condition, like huge dictionaries or architectural types. All winter when I can’t garden or build I read about 4 hours per day…sometimes all night long. Love when they give away books on tape so that I can listen to my fave authors while I do mending or quilting etc. I also pick up books like this for a family I know with 3 kids of various ages & a single mom, who is a low paid healthcare worker. I donate generously every Christmas to the library system as one of my charities & always get a lovely note as well as the tax receipt. The one library that I attend has a rental room where i have taken courses like on what a person needs to know before getting a lawyer to write their will. Or seen photos of organic gardening practices in Cuba…way ahead of their time, having gone back to the old ways of working the land without machinery that causes pollution unemployment etc. A local group which teaches about living off grid rents the room frequently to bring together like-minded people with experience to share. And sometimes young new artists or photographers can rent the room to do a show of their works. Wonderful use of public spaces!!!