Early years (1869–1887) of the Library Committee of the House of Representatives

Abstract

In 1868, the Hungarian House of Representatives decided to set up a library for the representatives to support legislative work. The House of Representatives elected a Library Committee to organize this library, which worked in three-year cycles till 1887, thereafter in five-year cycles. The Committee – whose tasks, rights and obligations were prescribed by the Rules of Procedure – performed leading-managing functions, took a stand in all important professional and economic issues, and monitored the implementation of rules and tasks it had prescribed. The Committee was obliged to report to the House about its own activities, as well as about the activities and use of the library. The study explores the first 20 years of the history of this body having operated for 80 years. The Library of the House of Representatives started operation in 1870, and developed since, under the name Library of the Hungarian Parliament, into one of the biggest research libraries in Hungary. The Library Committee of the early years has had significant merit in this accomplishment.