The service

We provide documents unavailable in our library through inter-library loan, which is accessible to all members of the library, with some rules that have to be observed.

When is this service available?

After that the reader is convinced that the document is unavailable in our collection, a request form has to be filled out. All data about the document in question should be indicated on the request form. Readers are notified straight away about the arrival of the document. If the request can only be sent from abroad, this should be also indicated.

Original documents are lent according to the rules of the sending library, after having payed for postal costs.

Copies can be kept, after having payed for its costs.

If the document can be found in Hungary, after having looked up its location, we forward the query, after which, in case of a national query, it takes 1-2 weeks for the document to arrive.

However, documents from abroad might take even months to arrive. Also, it is impossible to recall an international query.

It might happen, that libraries simply do not loan rare or very old pieces, only send a copy of the given pages.

Periodicals are not for loan at all, articles can only be sent as photocopies.
The cost of the copy (determined by the sending library and topped with postage costs) has to be payed for by the reader.

Libraries have the right to refuse a request of inter-library loan.
International inter-library loan costs 4500 HUF a piece one-way, and the postage back to the National Széchényi Library.

The price of copies ordered from abroad is determined by the sending library, to which the (sometimes high) postage costs are added.

International loans are handled through the National Széchényi Library.

The reader is immediately notified upon the arrival of the document.

After having payed for the costs, documents can be used according to the rules of the sending library. Original documents can be lent or used on the spot. Lending time is determined by the library providing the service, and it may range from 3-4 days to 1 month.

Except for international queries, there is a possibility to ask for extension of the loan, 1-2 days before the document is due. The request for extension can be turned down by the sending library. In this case, the document has to be returned by the original deadline.

Our library is a member of the National Document Supply System (ODR).  ODR is a system of services among libraries, established and funded by the Ministry of National Cultural Heritage, which enhances the accessibility of library documents through linking libraries in a national database which contains the location of books.

In the ODR the whole collection of the libraries is available in some way. It is up to the library providing the service whether they will send an original copy. If not, we do our best to provide access through the latest technical means we have. 

For further information please call +36 56 510-129