Information for Readers – #azOSZKújraVár (NSZL waits for you again)

 

In line with Government Decree No. 279/2020. (VI. 13.), National Széchényi Library and its Library of Book History, Library and Information will open their doors to readers, in compliance with epidemiological rules due to the coronavirus situation as of Tuesday June 16, 2020.

Until further notice, the General Reading Room of NSZL and the Library of Book History, Library and Information will be open to readers Tuesday to Friday, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Reading rooms of the Special Collections are scheduled to be opened at a later date.

In compliance with epidemiological rules, we can allow a maximum of 50 people to be simultaneously present in the Library, so that they could keep the necessary social distance. On entering the Library, please, use the touch-free hand sanitizing equipment at all times. During your entire stay in the Library building, it is recommended to wear a face mask. In the reading spaces, it is compulsory to wear a face mask.

Changes in the use of public spaces by readers to comply with epidemiological rules:

• We have introduced the system of online reader seat preservation mainly for our readers arriving from a rural location. If you would like to reserve a seat in the General Reading Room or the Microfilm Reading Room, please, send an e-mail to inform@oszk.hu [1], or in the case of the Library of Book History, Library and Information, to kszk@oszk.hu [2].

  We will send a reply to all of the reader seat reservation requests, but e-mails coming in after the opening hours will be processed only next day. We kindly ask for your patience.

• The cloakroom can receive one reader at a time, so we recommend you to use the lockable safes.

• Validity of Reader Passes valid at least until March 14, 2020 (i.e. Reader Passes having expired during the quarantine period, or still valid) will be prolonged with 3 months free of charge.

• Reserved books have been waiting for our readers: reservations made until March 15 have been re-launched, dated June 15, 2020.
• Library registration can be made Tuesday to Friday, until 16.30. Nylon bags provided to readers with a monthly, semi-annual or annual Reader Pass do not have to be returned on departure, and they will be replaced with a new bag in case they are damaged. Holders of a Day Reader Pass have to return the nylon bag. These bags will be sanitized before handed out to a new user.
• Query for a place number at the book arrival station will be the same as usual: readers will be notified about the arrival of the required repository document based on the place number. Also this is the way we can ensure compliance with the headcount limit.
• In the Library of Book History, Library and Information, you can bring back the borrowed books and you can also borrow new ones. Queries sent in advance to kszk@oszk.hu [2] will be prepared, so that staying in a closed space could be minimized. Borrowed books can be prolonged via e-mail (kszk@oszk.hu [2]) or via phone (+361/224-3725). Returned books will be transferred into a 72-hour quarantine and, for the safety of our readers, these books will not be serviced during that period.
• Personal reading spaces have been created at a safe distance in the General Reading Room of NSZL and in the Library of Book History, Library and Information. Readers can choose the right desk for themselves depending on the available seats.
• Books taken from the free shelves must be returned to the book cradles placed there, so that the Library could ensure their separation.
• For added security, we will temporarily suspend the use of Reader Professional Workstations (OPMs) and all other computers. That is why we ask you to bring your own computer with you if possible. Readers who do not have a computer of their own will be assisted by reference staff at the reference desk of the General Reading Room of NSZL and that of the Library of Book History, Library and Information to help find the required repository shelfmarks.
• At the public areas of the Library, wifi service will be provided for our readers.
• In the microfilm reading room, a limited number of workstations will be available, which will be sanitized after use.

• In order to minimize physical contact, microfilm copying, fast copy and self-service reprographic services will temporarily be suspended. Document copying queries will be fulfilled within 6 workdays in an electronic format or via mail. Paper-based queries have to be submitted at the staff working in the Microfilm Reading Room, or they can also be sent to the following e-mail address: masolatkeszites@oszk.hu [3]. Service fee can be paid either by transfer or by cash on delivery.
• We will provide you with a comfortable opportunity for reading in the armchairs placed in the catalog space, and this will also allow you to have conversation with each other.
• Please, keep a 1.5-meter waiting distance at the book arrival station. Submitting queries and the notification of query arrivals will be carried out in the usual way. You can reserve books from the repository, however, books cannot be switched between readers, in order to minimize physical contact.
• Returned repository documents will be transferred into a 72-hour quarantine and, for the safety of our readers, these documents will not be serviced during that period.
• Repository requests will be accepted until 4 p.m.

We are looking forward to seeing you in National Széchényi Library again!