For most of last year, DEENK has carried out a complete modernisation of the library on the Böszörményi Road campus. The 68 million HUF upgrade included new furniture and a major modernisation of the reading room.
A modern, pre-bookable study room has been created in place of the study rooms, and a comfortable reading room has been separated from the corridor by a section. Furnishings include recycled materials and decorative elements made from books no longer in use (book-art). The most up-to-date literature has been selected thematically for the open shelves.
Rental is done through self-rental terminals, but there is also a strong emphasis on professional services. In the lobby, visitors will also have access to the UN SDG book recommendations, electronic information resources and laptops for hire, which are part of the educational portfolios of the two faculties on campus, GTK and MÉK, and are monitored by the university rankings.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the reading room, Rector Zoltán Szilvássy said: this is exactly what a modern library should look like.
- The library smells of science and knowledge, it is the perfect place for reflection and drawing scientific conclusions. There are very important processes going on here, not to mention the fact that the library will always be one of the most fundamental sites of Europe's cultural heritage, which goes back thousands of years. I am proud that a library renovation worthy of the University of Debrecen and the faculties on campus has been completed and that a reading room fully in line with modern standards has opened its doors. Here, not only science and knowledge, but also cheerfulness can be felt, a genuine, unadulterated community space has been created," the Rector emphasised.
In recent years, the University of Debrecen has undergone significant modernisation of several library spaces. Zoltán Bács, Chancellor of Debrecen, pointed out that the reading room and library services were adapted to the needs of the faculties and students on the Böszörményi út campus.
- The University's reading and study spaces are constantly evolving, with the Main Building Library and the Life Sciences Library, and the Böszörményi Road campus also due for modernisation. Due to this, today's students can acquire knowledge and skills essential to their studies in conditions that allow them to use the library's collections in a comfortable space that meets all their needs. In the long term, the university library has a duty to preserve not only the knowledge but also the memory of the authors," said the Chancellor.
Gyöngyi Karácsony, Director General of the University and National Library of Debrecen, called the newly opened reading room a jewel box, a perfect symbol of the library's strategic approach and the expectations that a modern community space should meet.
- In response to the changes in everyday life, we have decided to change and modernise our spaces, for example to meet the expectations of Generation Z, who have entered higher education, and of the times. We are also trying to modernise the old library services and make the library even more popular by doing this and by extending the functionality of our spaces. The aim is to provide students with an ideal environment in which they can find everything they need to broaden their knowledge of economics and agricultural sciences," said the Director-General.
According to László Stündl, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, the library structure has been built around the students studying on campus, which can support their development in a worthy way, while Veronika Fenyves, Dean of the Faculty of Economics, emphasised the multifunctional nature of the library space, which can accommodate seventy-two people, allowing students not only to read and research, but also to prepare for exams in a relaxed environment.
On weekdays, the library is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., depending on the building's opening hours, but with the support of HÖK (Student Government), there is also a student reception service from Monday to Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Press Centre - BZ
