Opening hours of the Special Collection Reading Room:
From 18 October 2022, the Manuscript, Early Printed Book, Map, Poster and Small Print, and the Theatre History and Music Collections will be open to the public in a shared reading room.
Research in the reading room of the special collections is only available to our readers by prior reservation.
If possible, please make your reservation at least 24 hours in advance by emailing helyfoglalas.kulongyujtemenyek@oszk.hu [1].
If you are unable to come despite your reservation, please let us know so that we can make the seat available to someone else.
We expect your document requests by 16.30 on the day before your scheduled visit during the week and by 13.00 on Friday for Saturday.
Reference service is available until 16.30 on weekdays and until 14.00 on Fridays.
Our staff [2] will also be happy to help you by phone or email. Questions can be addressed by e-mail to manuscriptum[at]oszk.hu, or by phone at (+36-1) 224-3700/890, (+36) 30 311 3519, (+36) 30 312 3782 or (+36) 30 310 9377.
How to use the reading room:
How to make copies:
No cameras are allowed in the reading room. The library's digitisation centre can make copies [3]of the material on request, provided that the condition of the document allows it. Photocopies may not be made of any old document.
The completion of an electronic request form for a copy does not imply automatic authorisation to make a copy; the decision to do so is at the discretion of the Head of Department.
If the photograph is to be used for publishing purposes, this must be disclosed and by the customer and must be subject to specific authorisation. The customer must pay the library a fee for the use of the photograph, which is determined by the Head of Department.
Getting around in the collection
We kindly draw our researchers’ attention to the fact that following the foundation of National Széchényi Library in 1802, after the establishment of the Hungarian National Museum in 1810, NSZL had been integrated in the organization of the Museum and the Library had worked within this framework up until 1949. That is the reason why old releases and bibliographic references usually state the name of the Hungarian National Museum as the place of storage (e.g. Hungarian National Museum, Library of the Hungarian National Museum, National Széchényi Library of the Hungarian National Museum). All such names cover National Széchényi Library of Budapest, Hungary.
Electronic catalogues
Researchers can get information about material, which has been processed until 2000, from the following electronic catalogue: www.arcanum.hu/oszk [4].
Card catalogues
Researchers can get information about material, which has been processed until 2000, in a card catalogue placed in the corridor of the Research Room.
Fond unit lists
A detailed list of personal fond units is made available for researchers in the Research Room. Electronic version: Arcanum database [5].
Printed catalogues
Monographs, statements, printed and manuscript aids supporting research
Catalogue of the auxiliary library
Researchers can get information about the material of the auxiliary library in a card catalogue placed on the corridor of Research Room as well as in the Central Database of National Széchényi Library.
Unprocessed documents
Staff [12] of Manuscripts Archive will give you information about documents acquired after 2000 and also about still unprocessed manuscripts, based on the inner register of Manuscripts Archive.
Related contents:
Manuscripts [13]
Links:
[1] http://helyfoglalas.kulongyujtemenyek@oszk.hu
[2] https://telefonkonyv.oszk.hu/telefonkonyv/index.htm?search=&type=szerv&search_h=CN%3DKezirattar%2COU%3DKezirattar%2COU%3DKutatasi_es_Kulongyujtmenyi_Foosztaly%2COU%3DAltalanos_Foigazgato-helyettes%2COU%3D01_Foigazgato%2COU%3DDepartments%2COU%3DEmployees%2CDC%3Dad%2CDC%3Doszk%2CDC%3Dhu&type_h=dolg&deptName=K%C3%A9ziratt%C3%A1r
[3] https://www.oszk.hu/en/copying_service
[4] http://www.arcanum.hu/oszk
[5] http://www.arcanum.hu/oszk/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=tools-contents.htm&cp=kezirattar%2Ffond&2.0
[6] http://www.arcanum.hu/oszk/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=tools-contents.htm&cp=kezirattar%2Fcodlat&2.0
[7] http://www.arcanum.hu/oszk/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=tools-contents.htm&cp=kezirattar%2Ffolhung&2.0
[8] http://www.arcanum.hu/oszk/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=tools-contents.htm&cp=kezirattar%2F1950u&2.0
[9] http://www.arcanum.hu/oszk/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=tools-contents.htm&cp=kezirattar%2Fcatlat&2.0
[10] http://www.arcanum.hu/oszk/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=tools-contents.htm&cp=kezirattar%2Fanalekta&2.0
[11] http://www.arcanum.hu/oszk/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=tools-contents.htm&cp=kezirattar%2Flevelestar&2.0
[12] http://www.oszk.hu/telefonkonyv/index.htm?search=k%C3%A9ziratt%C3%A1r&type=szerv&search_h=CN%3DKezirattar%2COU%3DKezirattar%2COU%3D4_Kulongyujtemenyi_igazgatosag%2COU%3DDepartments%2COU%3DEmployees%2CDC%3Dad%2CDC%3Doszk%2CDC%3Dhu&type_h=dolg&deptName=K%C3%A9ziratt%C3%A1r
[13] http://www.oszk.hu/en/manuscripts