The Central Library of Semmelweis Medical School is the
largest and oldest in Hungary. The Medical School was
established by Matria Theresia Habsburg empress and the
library was founded by Zsigmond Schordann - professor of
physiology- in 1828.Since 1945 the library has been open for
medical students, previously it could only be attended by
graduated medical doctors on recommendation of their
professors.
The education in German at the general medical and dental
faculties was introduced in 1983 and English instruction
started in 1989 at the same faculties. The training of medical
doctors in 2003 was offered in three languages. From the
8793 students 1300 were foreigners. The composition on
library users has changed:previously professors and
researchers with scientific degrees were the main users,
recently local and foreign medical students.The library itself
also changed markedly and was transformed into a learning
center,therefore the role of librarian and users also changed
radically. The students do not want only certain publications
anymore, they spend an important period of their time- 8-10
hours daily- in the library. At the same time their demands and
expectations of the library has changed. We would like to
satisfy these demands with the help of our survey.
During the last three years we permormed student statisfaction
surveys annually. We have analysed the data from our student
users. Every six months we have rectified our questionaire.
On the basis of the evaluation the data every Summer during
the renovation of our library we took into consideration their
demands. Minor changes were also introduced during the
year. Some of suggestions were extreme-like running the
library on a 24 hours continous basis- this was rejected
mainly because of lack of finances.
Every questionaire contains a special column for remarks,
where students are free to make any anonymous
remarks,criticism,suggestions.
Our aim is to attract the students with our services and
improve the knowledge of our staff continously. We would
like our foreign students after graduation to be able to
remember Budapest with satisfaction.
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