Creating the library of the future

Purchase of equipment, digitization, student-friendly investments, curriculum development – these are the elements, among other things, of the project that will be implemented by the University and National Library of the University of Debrecen using a HUF 305.5-million grant.

The investment and development program worth hundreds of millions of forints is being implemented in the University and National Library of the University of Debrecen (DEENK). The programme is expected to raise the standard of higher education and facilitate students’ more efficient study work. Some of the plans have already been implemented, and there is continuous development.     

- DEENK is already building the future with all the elements of the tender, as we are primarily implementing developments that will allow us to create the reader- and customer-centric library of tomorrow, Gyöngyi Karácsony told hirek.unideb.hu. The Director General of DEENK emphasized that throughout the planning and implementation, the focus was on the students, as their main objective was to reduce drop-out rates, and all this by developing competencies related to their training and making the material and environmental conditions more comfortable for them. 

One of the important and - already visible - elements (following the easing of restrictions) of student services is the reservation system of the study rooms operating in the Life Sciences Library ( https://lib.unideb.hu/hu/tanuloszoba-foglalasa ), which, in addition to using the most modern tools, provides opportunities for individual or even group preparation. 

The creation of the Creative Island, which was designed with the involvement of a student working group, has begun in the Main Building. Here, students can try and apply new techniques during their studies, with the help of, among other things, a recently acquired 3D printer.


One novelty will be a laptop rental service, expected to operate from the next academic year, which will primarily help disadvantaged university students to study and work. 

There is also ongoing preparation of practical and theoretical knowledge related to presentation and dissertation writing as well as teaching materials describing the knowledge of accurate reference preparation. All these materials are continuously uploaded to the DEENK e-learning interfaces by the library staff.  

- Naturally, in order to raise the standards of our services, foreign language training of our employees is essential, as knowledge of the English language is indispensable when in our relations with foreign students who study here or come here within the framework of Erasmus. 

During the pandemic situation, the digitization of DEENK's stocks was given new impetus, thus rare and scarce or only locally searchable documents will be available on the library's online interfaces, regardless of opening hours. In the course of the work, the constantly growing digital gallery was also completed: https://galeria.lib.unideb.hu/regi-konyvek/item. 



As restrictions imposed due to the pandemic situation are lifted, it will soon be possible to organize events, with which DEENK will once again be able to provide entertainment and recreation in its renewed spaces. 

The project is implemented in the framework of the EFOP 3.4.3-16-2016-00021 "For the development of the University of Debrecen in order to simultaneously improve the quality and accessibility of higher education" in the University and National Library of the University of Debrecen.

Press Office