KSH Könyvtár

“Lost in thought?” a voice startled me. I blinked, realizing I’d been staring at the KSH Könyvtár’s entrance. The KSH Könyvtár, also known as the Library of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, has quite a history. Established in 1867, alongside the Hungarian statistical service itself, it aimed to nurture the scientific development of statistics. Imagine, in 1869, Keleti Károly, a key figure in Hungarian statistics, proposed that the library receive mandatory copies of state science and statistical works. This wasn’t the only way the KSH Könyvtár grew. Foreign exchange programs played a vital role, boosting its collection significantly. Under Imre Findura, the librarian from 1871 to 1904, the collection exploded from 2,054 items to a staggering 17,239. By 1885, the KSH Könyvtár held the second-largest official library in Hungary, right after the Parliament’s library. By 1896, it boasted 66,000 items. Initially focusing solely on specialized literature and official statistical publications, the KSH Könyvtár’s scope expanded in 1897. A law designated it as a public library and entitled it to receive mandatory copies of all publications. This became its primary source of acquisition, representing 50-60% of its growth. World War II sadly took its toll, with the library losing tens of thousands of volumes. Yet, it reopened on July 9, 1945, becoming truly public during the reorganization of the Statistical Office in 1949. A reading room with fifty seats was established, and in 1952, its right to mandatory copies was reaffirmed. Today, the KSH Könyvtár houses nearly a million documents. It continues to collect Hungarian statistical and demographic literature comprehensively, as well as selected foreign publications from around the world and international organizations. It holds significant collections of handbooks, encyclopedias, materials on economics, sociology, law, and even literature. It’s more than just books though. The library provides access to digital databases, its own publications, and even a historical statistics research group. It’s an incredible resource, a testament to the importance of data and the power of knowledge.