Basic collection

The most important task of the library of the Institute of Hungarian Literature and Cultural Studies is to assist the teachers of the university in their academic work and teaching and assist students in their preparation.

Our teachers file the notes for the individual seminars assigned to students in the library and registration is not required to use these.

The core of our library is the handbook library located in the reading room, which further to academic research of literature - is also suitable for gathering general information and information related to other areas - in addition to general cyclopedias and encyclopedias - such as philosophy, religion, mythology, linguistics, history, ethnography, environmental studies, fine arts, music, geography, pedagogy, psychology, etc.

At the beginning of the literature major course, it is important to familiarize with the fundamental bibliographies encompassing Hungarian language books. These are: the Old Hungarian Library (“RMK”) edited by Károly Szabó; the Old Hungarian Prints (“RMNy”) created under the leadership of Gedeon Borsa; Petrik’s bibliography of Hungary and its amendments, as well as its continuation, the Hungarian bibliography; Bibliography of the history of Hungarian literature and the history of literature series of the “OSZK” since 1945. Information regarding the works of individual authors may be found among the personal bibliographies. We also have press bibliographies and periodical repertories, as well as catalogues, databases and various thematic bibliographies.

The collection of high literature starts with source publications, doubles, textbooks and chrestomathies indispensable for studying old Hungarian literature; followed by texts and critical publications of the individual authors. The monographs of the individual authors is found following the history of literature encyclopedia and handbook shelves. The most important compulsory literature assigned by teachers is classified separately.

In addition to Hungarian edition world encyclopedias and handbooks, English, German, French and Italian editions are also available; and Hungarian and original language text publications, chrestomathies and specialty literature are available for comparative history of literature and literature theoretical studies.

The preparation of our teaching major students is assisted by the methodological guidebooks and periodicals on teaching literature and the literature textbooks available in our reading room.

Our oldest periodical is the 1789 issue of the “A' Bétsi Magyar Kurir”. We hold various issues of the periodicals of the XIX. century: “Élet és Literatura”, “Magyar Museum”, “Új Magyar Museum”, “Pesti Divatlap”, “Életképek”, “Magyar Életképek”, “Regélő”, “Tudományos Gyűjtemény”, “Koszorú”, “Minerva”, etc. The most important newspapers of the first half of the 20th century are also available: “Nyugat”, “Magyar Csillag”, “Huszadik Század”, “Napkelet”, “Magyarok”, “Kalangya”, “Sorsunk”, “Válasz”, “Kelet Népe”, “Apolló”, “Erdélyi Helikon”, “Újhold”, etc. Almost the entire range of contemporary literature research and high literature periodicals is available with all issues and all years: from the “Alföld” to “Vigilia”; the “Egyetemes Filológiai Közlöny”, “Századok”, “Magyar Könyvszemle”, “Helikon”, “Literatura”, “Irodalomtörténet”, “Irodalomtörténeti Közlemények”, etc. The periodicals catalogue on our Internet site provides detailed information regarding the above. The most recent issues of the periodicals are found on the periodical stands of the reading room, earlier issues may be requested with a request form.

The library also collects the theses and master of arts PhD dissertations submitted to the faculty on the subject of Hungarian and comparative literature. The earliest theses are coded closing theses from the second half of the XIX century.