Hamvas Béla Pest Megyei Könyvtár

What Hamvas Béla Pest Megyei Könyvtár does

Hamvas Béla Pest Megyei Könyvtár is a county-level public library founded on December 31, 1952, headquartered in Szentendre, Hungary (Pátriárka utca 7.). It functions as the central public library of Pest County, holding the Minősített Könyvtár cím (Qualified Library Title) awarded by the Ministry of Culture and Innovation in 2022. The institution operates multiple specialized sections — Adult, Children's, Youth, Music (Fonotéka), Local History, Museum, and Nationality/Foreign Language — each with dedicated collections, programming, and digital access points including the Pest Megyei Digitális Könyvtár (PMDK) digital library platform and virtual exhibitions.

The library is also a statutory county coordinator for the KSZR (Könyvtárellátási Szolgáltató Rendszer), providing library supply, training, and quality assurance support to approximately 100 small-settlement municipal libraries across Pest County. It runs a year-round program of cultural events, workshops, reading clubs, film screenings (Könyvtármozi), bibliotherapy training, and an intergenerational digital literacy initiative (Netrevalók). Additional services include the Könyvtárfutár home delivery service for mobility-limited patrons, escape room programming via partner GyalogKaland, venue rental, and a webshop for publications and merchandise. International engagement is anchored by Erasmus+ mobility partnerships spanning libraries in Norway, France, Austria, Romania, and Slovakia, with two consecutive project cycles (2024–2025 and 2026–2027) and academic cooperation with ELTE-BTK KITI and the University of Pécs.

The business model is primarily government-funded: institutional operations are financed through public budget allocations under Pest County and Ministry of Culture and Innovation oversight, supplemented by grants (notably Nemzeti Kulturális Alap / National Cultural Fund and Erasmus+), the Szentendrei Könyvtárkultúráért Alapítvány foundation, membership fees (5,500–8,000 Ft/year for family and supporting tiers), pay-as-you-go escape room sessions (9,990 Ft), and ancillary venue rental and book sales. The customer base spans the general public of Pest County across all age groups, schools and educators, community organizations, researchers, and the 100 small-settlement libraries it coordinates. Distribution is omnichannel: physical main library and branch (Püspökmajori Klubkönyvtár), KSZR network, digital library platform, online event streaming on YouTube, social media channels (Facebook, Instagram), email newsletter, and the Szentendre city app partnership.

Name

Hamvas Béla Pest Megyei Könyvtár

Legal name

Hamvas Béla Pest Megyei Könyvtár

Website

https://hbpmk.hu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hamvas Béla Pest Megyei Könyvtár is a Hungarian county-level public library in Szentendre, serving Pest County residents across all age groups with lending, cultural programming, digital services, and coordination of approximately 100 small-settlement libraries through the KSZR system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• County library system
• Community cultural programs
• Digital heritage collections
• Library professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Szentendre

HQ country

Hungary

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Public library funded by government sources as a county-level cultural institution serving Pest County.
2. Library Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from individual and family readers, with supporting member tier offering additional borrowing privileges.
3. Room Rental: Venue rental services for events and activities in library spaces.
4. Escape Room: Adventure game experience organized by GyalogKaland partner at library premises.
5. Book Sales: Webshop selling publications, books, and library merchandise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hamvas Béla Pest Megyei Könyvtár is a public county library that lends books, periodicals, and media through dedicated age-based and subject-based sections (Adult, Children's, Youth, Music, Local History, Museum, and Nationality collections) and provides community programming such as lectures, workshops, film screenings, and cultural events. It also operates the PMDK digital library platform, an institutional webshop for publications and merchandise, an escape room experience, room-rental services, and county-wide coordination support to approximately 100 smaller libraries via the KSZR system. Membership-based lending (with annual supporting and family tiers) is the primary access channel for individual patrons, complemented by free government-funded public services.

Product overview

Hamvas Béla Pest Megyei Könyvtár operates as a county-level public library in Szentendre, Hungary, offering a multi-section service model. The core offerings include traditional library sections (Felnőtt Részleg, Gyermekkönyvtár, Ifjúsági Könyvtár, Fonotéka, Helytörténeti Gyűjtemény, Muzeális Gyűjtemény) serving different age groups and subject interests. The library has expanded into digital services through the Pest Megyei Digitális Könyvtár (Digital Library) and Virtuális Kiállítások (Virtual Exhibitions). Community programs include the Könyvtármozi (Cinema), special events, and cultural programs. The institution also coordinates the KSZR (Könyvtárellátási Szolgáltató Rendszer) to support smaller libraries across Pest County, and participates in the Erasmus+ mobility program for staff professional development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Felnőtt Részleg (Adult Library Section) The main adult lending and reading services section of the county library, offering books, periodicals, research assistance, and study facilities to adult patrons.
• Gyermekkönyvtár (Children's Library) Dedicated library section for children offering age-appropriate collections, storytelling, summer reading programs, mesetábor (story camps), and early literacy programming for young patrons and families.
• Ifjúsági Könyvtár (Youth Library) Library services specifically designed for teenage readers, including dedicated young-adult collections, reading clubs, community service hours, and youth-focused educational workshops.
• Fonotéka (Music Collection) Audio and music collection offering CDs, vinyl records, and audiobooks for lending and on-premises listening to library members.
• Helytörténeti Gyűjtemény (Local History Collection) Specialized archival collection documenting the history of Szentendre and the Pest County region, including historical photographs, archival documents, and genealogical research materials.
• Muzeális Gyűjtemény (Museum Collection) Rare and valuable antiquarian holdings including old books and special materials from the library's historical collection, available for research and cultural programming.
• Virtuális Kiállítások (Virtual Exhibitions) Online exhibitions showcasing the library's collections, local history of Szentendre, and cultural heritage, accessible remotely through the library website.
• Pest Megyei Digitális Könyvtár (Pest County Digital Library) Digital library platform providing online access to digitized cultural heritage materials from Pest County, complementing the physical library's collections.
• Könyvtárfutár (Library Courier Service) Home delivery service bringing library materials to patrons who cannot visit the library in person, particularly serving elderly or mobility-limited readers.
• KSZR Könyvtárellátási Szolgáltató Rendszer (Library Service Supply System) County-level library service coordination system providing professional support, material supply, training, and resources to approximately 100 small settlement libraries across Pest County.
• Erasmus+ Mobilitási Program (Library Staff Mobility Program) International professional development program enabling library staff to participate in learning mobility projects across European partner institutions in Norway, France, Austria, Romania, and Slovakia.
• Annual Library Membership (Supporting Member and Family Member tiers) Annual membership subscriptions granting borrowing privileges; Supporting Member tier (HUF 8,000/year) allows borrowing 12 books throughout the year while Family Membership (HUF 5,500/year) covers household members.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving approximately 100 libraries in Pest County through KSZR coordination
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ELTE-BTK KITI (Eötvös Loránd University - Library and Information Science Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 May 2021Cooperation agreement signed with ELTE's Library and Information Science Institute. Library provides placement opportunities for library science students for professional practice and visits. ELTE supports staff professional development and provides expertise for research collaboration and professional events.
• Erasmus+ ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean mobility program enabling staff training and professional development. Established partnerships with libraries in Bergen, Oslo (Norway), Paris (France), Saalfelden (Austria), Sepsiszentgyörgy, Csíkszereda, Kézdivásárhely (Romania), and Rimaszombat (Slovakia). Second Erasmus+ project approved for 2026-2027.
• Szentendrei Kulturális KözpontmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal cultural center partnership for cross-promotion of cultural programs and events in Szentendre.
• Szentendre és Vidéke (SZEVI)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal newspaper and media partnership for community information sharing.
• KönyvtármoziminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFilm screening partnership for cultural programming.
• Magyar Könyvtárosok Egyesülete Pest Megyei Szervezete (MKE PEMEKSZ)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty branch of Hungarian Librarians Association organizing professional events including Library Picnic for networking and experience sharing among county librarians.
• GyalogKalandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdventure game company organizing escape room experiences at the library on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
• Magyar Biblioterápiás TársaságmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHungarian Bibliotherapy Society holds regular workshops at the library as part of the bibliotherapy program.
• Szentendrei Járás Egészségfejlesztési Iroda (EFI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth Development Office co-organizes 'Mégis, kinek az egészsége?' (Who does health belong to?) health education lecture series at the library.
• Duna-Ipoly Nemzeti Park IgazgatóságminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational park directorate provides expert speakers for environmental and nature protection presentations.
• Fővárosi Szabó Ervin KönyvtármajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapital City library system collaborating on professional development and joint hosting of international Erasmus+ visitors.
• Gödöllői Városi Könyvtár és Információs KözpontmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal library in Gödöllő collaborating on professional development and joint hosting of international Erasmus+ visitors.
• Szentendre Város ÖnkormányzatacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government provides institutional support and city card partnership for reader discounts.
• WWF HungaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization providing expert speakers for ecological film club discussions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Stockholms stadsbibliotek: Stockholm's public library system offering lending, cultural events, and digital services across the metropolitan area. Comparable to HBPMK as a Nordic public library hub with multi-branch coordination and an emphasis on community programming.
• Békés Megyei Könyvtár: County library for Békés County in Hungary, performing the same megyei coordination role as HBPMK under Hungary's national public library system. Comparable in scale, regional scope, and KSZR-equivalent service to small municipalities.
• Országos Széchényi Könyvtár: Hungary's national library, providing national-level coordination, archival stewardship, and digital infrastructure for Hungarian libraries. Comparable as a public-sector library authority with overlapping mandates in collection management and professional support.
• Fővárosi Szabó Ervin Könyvtár: Budapest's metropolitan public library system and a named HBPMK partner on professional development and Erasmus+ hosting. Operates a similar multi-branch lending, cultural programming, and digital services model in Hungary's capital, making it the closest functional peer.
• Brooklyn Public Library: Borough-level public library system in New York offering lending, cultural programming, and community services — analogous to HBPMK's role as a sub-regional library hub coordinating smaller branches.
• Fejér Megyei Könyvtár: County library for Fejér County in Hungary, structurally equivalent to HBPMK as a megyei könyvtár with county-coordination duties over smaller settlement libraries. Directly comparable scope, mandate, and service mix.
• Helsinki City Library: Municipal public library system in Helsinki providing lending, cultural events, and digital services across multiple branches. Comparable as a city/county-level public library serving diverse demographic segments with a strong community programming focus.
• Gödöllői Városi Könyvtár és Információs Központ: Municipal library in Gödöllő with whom HBPMK collaborates on professional development and Erasmus+ visitor hosting. Closely comparable as a Hungarian municipal/county-area public library offering lending, cultural programming, and community services.

Broad incumbents

• New York Public Library: One of the largest public library systems in the world. Comparable in offering lending, research collections, community programming, and digital services, though at vastly greater scale and serving a major metropolitan area.
• British Library: UK national library combining research collections, public programming, and digital access. Comparable in stewarding heritage collections and serving both researchers and the general public, though at national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pmkszentendre
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@hbpmkszentendre
• Instagraminstagram.com/pmk_szentendre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hamvas-b%C3%A9la-pest-megyei-k%C3%B6nyvt%C3%A1r

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hamvas Béla Pest Megyei Könyvtár