Tenders for the first phase of the project, which aims to expand the range of technical equipment available in Hungary's libraries, will be invited in the second quarter of 2008. Part of the phase involves the digitalisation of images and maps from library collections in conjunction with Hungary's Renaissance Year 2008 celebrations.
In the second phase, library catalogues will be digitalised with some HUF 3 billion in funding. Catalogues will be posted online, making inter-library loans easier.
In the next phase of the programme, some HUF 8 billion will be made available to improve access to libraries, through mediums such as the internet, to carry out educational and training programmes, and to improve reading habits with the establishment of reading groups. Bids for this phase of the programme will be invited before the end of 2008.
Minister of Education and Culture István Hiller announced last July that HUF 20 billion would be available from European Union sources between 2008 and 2013 for the modernisation of Hungary's libraries. Over the next five years, HUF 16.67 billion will be spent on developing library spaces and an additional HUF 4.25 billion on digitalisation. The library development project is a central element of Hungary's rural development strategy.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI) / Múlt-kor
