The library’s main objective is to assist the teaching and research activities of the employees of the Institute of Hungarian Language and Finno-Ugric Studies and the successful completion of linguistic studies for all students participating in all levels and types of education related to the Institute (Hungarian language and literature, Finno-Ugric, all minors, majors and PhDs). Accordingly, the library strives to achieve the possibly most complete collection of related traditional and modern Hungarian language literature. The collection is considered unique, regarding its traditional linguistics literature (especially the collection from before the Second World War). Our collection of old (18th, 17th, 16th century) grammar, vocabularies and dictionaries is almost complete and may be reviewed by committed researchers. Exceptional linguistic experts enriched our library by donating their private collections to the library (Dezső Pais, Géza Bárczi, Loránd Benkő). The literature of related studies comprises the sub-collection. The source materials indispensable for linguistic research (Hungarian literature, document archives, local history literature), as well as the theses and PhD dissertations prepared and defended at the Institute, form an important part of the collection.
The collection consists of approximately 40,000 documents, the majority of which is in Hungarian, a smaller portion is in English or German. 2 of the 32 periodicals is in English, the rest is in Hungarian The majority of the collection is kept in a compact warehouse. The bound volumes of the 3 core periodicals of Hungarian linguistics (“Magyar Nyelv, “Magyar Nyelvőr” and “Nyelvtudományi Közlemények”), the manuals and textbooks are located on open stacks, while the collections of letters, first editions of works of literature and old dictionaries to be protected are found in closed cabinets.