6 appealing libraries in Budapest every book lover must visit – PHOTOS
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.
Find the library here: 1056 Budapest, Molnár Street 11.
4. Library of the Parliament (Országgyűlési Könyvtár)
Only few people know that one of the most special libraries of Budapest can be found in the building of the Parliament on Kossuth Square. According to Funzine, once only members of Parliament could use the library’s services, but for more than 70 years now, the 130-seat reading room has been open to anyone. Seated at carved wooden tables and lit by antique lamps, anyone can browse through all the publications of the United Nations or the European Union.
Find the library here: 1055 Budapest, Kossuth Lajos Square 1-3.
5. BME National Technical Information Centre and Library (BME Országos Műszaki Információs Központ és Könyvtár)
This library is considered one of the most decorative of its kind in Budapest. Built in the early 1900s, the building was designed by Samu Pecz. Passing through the central lobby, we enter the reading room where sometimes even film crews appear. The furnishings are mostly modern pieces but still fit in well with the old-fashioned style of the place. There are nearly a million volumes to choose from, including a significant amount of literature in Economics and many technical disciplines.
Find the library here: 1111 Budapest, Budafoki Street 4.
6. Library and Information Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA Könyvtár és Információs Központ)
According to the library’s Facebook page, since its foundation in 1826, the Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences has dedicated itself to supporting scientific and scholarly research and safeguarding its precious collections for generations to come. The library was established by historian Count József Teleki, the first President of the Academy, who offered his 30,000 volume library to the Academy in 1826. We can find works on ancient studies, language and literature, oriental studies, history of science, and publications from foreign academies.
Find the library here: 1051 Budapest, Arany János Street 1.
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Source: Funzine, konyvtar.mta.hu, Facebook
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!!!