Search for Readership and Identity in Hungarian Libraries

Máté Tóth: Social Roles of Libraries in the View of Empirical Research Data

Abstract

There is a kind of generational shift happening in reading research in Hungary. Fortunately, the "pioneers" who initiated the domestic investigations - Gereben Ferenc and Nagy Attila, whose names must be mentioned - are still active. However, in the field of reading sociology, the research and writings of Péterfi Rita and later Tóth Máté indicated that there are others who are taking up the baton. The latest Hungarian representative reading study was conducted by the Szabó Ervin Metropolitan Library, and it is often referred to in the literature and conferences as the "Tóth Máté-style research" because he was the project leader. This survey provided a wealth of data for professionals, and there is still information to be processed. Tóth Máté's new book primarily works with these results, although not exclusively. As the author indicates in the first chapter, international data (see the ALMPUB project), previous measurements by the National Széchényi Library, and Cultural Statistics are also used, in addition to the above. At the beginning of the volume, there is a relatively extensive overview of the literature, followed by statistical data - but of course, this publication is valuable and interesting not only because of that. In the following chapters, the author explores various topics and formulates conclusions and lessons based on the research findings. Furthermore, we will present some particularly important and interesting facts and statements from the book, striving for a kind of thematic coherence - which can also be observed in Tóth Máté's work.