Kisvárosi könyvtárak szerepvállalásai.

The roles of small-town libraries.

The Hungarian Library Institute (HLI) carried out a survey in 2007 in the public libraries of some small towns. In the first phase researchers collected information in the libraries of towns with fewer than 5000 inhabitants, that had recently been qualified as cities. The research revealed, applying sociographic methods, the roles which town libraries must play in our times; how the expectations depend from local circumstances; what is the prestige of the library and the librarian like; what is the relationship between statistics and local reality. The subjects of semi-structured interviews were: the library managers and their staff, the mayors, local cultural managers and library users. It was found that the different functions undertaken and the efficiency of work were primarily determined by human resources. The quality of library services is not defined by needs, rather by local opportunities. The factors necessary for efficient activity are as follows: a qualified library manager with good communication skills, a supportive funding body and good professional connections. Viability is measured by the harmony between services and local needs. Statistical data provide only basic knowledge on how the library operates, but are not sufficient to outline a differentiated image. The researchers of HLI will continue this survey in the libraries of traditional towns and in those of the so-called towns with county rank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]