Library Nights

The grand series of the Library Nights has begun with the relocation of the university library to the new building. Every year from 2005, a well-planned theme set the axis of events. The university community as well as the local readers were curious about the programs that ran from 8pm until 2am, as shown by the annual attendance of 3000-4000 visitors. But the evening was not only about entertainment. During the nighttime tours, the library, functioning as a workshop, and its working processes became accessible for visitors under professional guidance. Our readers had the opportunity to visit areas usually off-limits to them, such as the computer server room or the bindery. Competitions, quiz shows, film screenings, specially curated exhibitions for the occasion, and even treats awaited the attendees. The “hours of grace”, the complete waiving of overdue fees, was undoubtedly one of the most popular events for students. Every year, a dedicated team has spent months creating and refining the website of Library Nights. These truly were works of art! During theatrical performances and choir singing, it became evident how creative librarians are and how wide-ranging and deep their knowledge is in various fields. It also became evident that they are good at organising and collaborating well in completing non-mandatory tasks.

Poster for the second Library Night

In the first year, alongside the opportunities provided by the new building, the chosen theme presented itself: the black cat regularly appearing around the library, Penge became the emblematic character. The following year the theme was lighter and more fitting for the night: a so-called „bagolyvár” (owl nest) was built, and the nocturnal bird’s role in films, visual artworks and literary works was discussed. The motto of the third night (in 2008) evoked the mysterious past of the witches of Szeged within the library’s glass walls: „Witches do exist!” – was the motto. The sixth Library Night, which offered a medieval time travel experience following last year’s ancient era, clearly brought the greatest success of the event series. In addition to national press coverage, the figures (number of programs, attendance) also support this. After that, the the library opened its doors four more times at night, with the last occasion being 2016, to promote the eternal truth along the theme of fairy tales:

“Coming to the library is great!"