Local? European? International?: Co-operation between British and Hungarian local studies librarians

Citation

Gancs, E. (1999), "Local? European? International?: Co-operation between British and Hungarian local studies librarians", Librarian Career Development, Vol. 7 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/lcd.1999.10207daf.001

Local? European? International?: Co-operation between British and Hungarian local studies librarians

Local? European? International?: Co-operation between British and Hungarian local studies librarians

In 1992 when I set up a correspondence with Elizabeth Melrose ­ now the chairman of the Library Association Local Studies Group ­ I could not have thought that, in 1998, I would be awarded an honorary life membership of the Library Association Local Studies Group, in recognition and appreciation of the contribution made to: "the continuing accord between the UK Local Studies Group and the Local Studies Group of the Hungarian Library Association".

Our connection started by chance. I was in the right place at the right time, and I met the right person.

In 1991 the UK Local Studies Group had taken over the responsibility of a journal exchange with the National Library of Hungary. At the same time, Elizabeth Melrose wrote to the National Library in Budapest asking if there were any librarians who might consider writing to the Local Studies Group on mutual issues of concern and practice. Her letter was published in the Hungarian journal for librarians, Könyvtári Levelezö/lap.

When I read this article, I was the head of the local studies section of my library, the Kisfaludy Károly County Public Library in Györ (north-west of Hungary). I had just finished my English studies at the teachers' training college in my town. So I was interested not only in the practice of local studies but also in extending my knowledge of the English language.

Elizabeth and I wrote to each other and in 1993 I was invited by our British colleagues to speak about local studies libraries in Hungary at the Library Association conference, UmbrelLA2, in Manchester. The Local Studies Group organized a study tour for me. I was able to visit several libraries in York and Sheffield and I had an opportunity to make friends with English librarians. During this study tour I realized how important it is for local studies librarians to know each other and to have a professional organization which can help them to collaborate over developments in local studies librarianship.

Returning home, I spoke about my experiences to my colleagues and won their confidence. I was able to persuade them that we should form a group for Hungarian local studies librarians. Gyula Mándli, who helped me considerably at that time, is now the chairman of the official Hungarian Local Studies Group.

The Local Studies Group of the Association of Hungarian Librarians was established in 1994. Elizabeth Melrose was invited to our country to give two papers at the 1994 Conference of the Association of Hungarian Librarians. It was fortunate that she was present when our group held its first official meetings as an independent body and she gave us lots of useful advice for the future.

Since then both local studies groups have agreed to a documented three-year Letter of Accord, now extended for a further three years. This accord includes, among other things, the exchange of publications and several professional exchanges. Three members of the UK Local Studies Group have travelled to Hungary to present papers at our annual conferences. They have given us a British dimension on our conference themes ­ the theoretical and practical aims of co-operation in local studies provision; local history monograph writing; and the history and collections of religious libraries. We organized study tours in Hungary for our British friends in order to demonstrate our best local studies practice and to give both British and Hungarian librarians the opportunity of getting to know each other professionally and socially.

Two Hungarian librarians have visited the UK. In March 1998, ten members of the Hungarian Local Studies Group spent five days in London on a study visit, touring libraries and archives. A group visit is more satisfactory from the point of view of Hungarian librarians because few are fluent in English ­ and even fewer of our British colleagues speak Hungarian! In this way non-English-speaking Hungarian local studies librarians are able to observe the work of their counterparts in the UK. Elizabeth Melrose helped me to organize this study tour which was memorable and very useful for the Hungarian local studies experts.

What are the benefits of the connection?

Very often we realize that we have the same problems, the same difficulties. Together it is easier to find options and solutions. Because of the general economy of our country, it is very important that Hungarian librarians and libraries improve their public relations, find the right way to promote their collections, and give a better service to their users. In the past years local studies librarians in the UK have been addressing these topics and their experience is helpful to us. Conversely, we hope our British guests see the enthusiasm with which our librarians are tackling collection acquisition and management.

Six of our main libraries now receive a copy of the UK Local Studies Group journal, Local Studies Librarian, and the articles in this are distributed to other interested librarians to inform them about UK practice. The journal also publishes articles about the connection and about our Hungarian libraries for the benefit of our British colleagues.

In the future we hope to set up a joint e-mail list of UK and Hungarian local studies librarians, a co-operative Web site for the comparative study of source material and genealogical databases ­ many second-generation Hungarian emigrants are visiting our archives to research their ancestry in the mother country. Our group intends to compile user guides in Hungarian, German and English to help them and the general public.

To be awarded an honorary life membership of the UK Local Studies Group was an honour for both our chairman and myself. It represents for us the recognition that our group has committed its members to a worthy collaboration that benefits both countries. This is a collaboration that will continue.

Erzsébet GáncsInternational Officer, Hungarian Local Studies Group