Debrecen4U January 28, 2026

The University Library of Debrecen Celebrates Its Quarter‑Century Anniversary

The University and National Library of the University of Debrecen (DEENK) has reached the 25th anniversary of its establishment and over the past quarter century has become one of the region’s and the country’s key knowledge centers. DEENK is celebrating throughout the year with a series of events that promote the expansion of knowledge and collaborative thinking.

As detailed on the university’s website, the history of the library dates back to 1916, and in recent decades the institution has been characterized by continuous development, expansion, and transformation. In the second half of the 20th century, several independent faculty and university libraries operated in Debrecen; these were merged in 2001, creating the DEENK as it is known today, which has since played a defining role in supporting research, education, and university community life. The University and National Library of the University of Debrecen currently serves readers with a total of nine libraries in four cities: Debrecen, Szolnok, Nyíregyháza, and Hajdúböszörmény.

Director General Gyöngyi Karácsony spoke about DEENK’s mission and its role within the university, stating that a comprehensive, institution-wide strategy has been developed, the essence of which is transparency, accessibility, and joint thinking. “Following university integration, we sought to strengthen cooperation within DEENK, and several organizational changes were implemented to this end. The Kassai Road Library and the Life and Natural Sciences Library opened their doors, the latter now celebrating its twentieth anniversary. The university leadership supported the presence of DEENK services on every campus so that all lecturers and students of every faculty could use the library under equal conditions and with equal quality. At present, a conscious value system and organizational culture define DEENK’s strategy and mission; we strive to keep pace with change, our guiding principle is proactivity, and we coexist with the environment around us,” the director general said.

She added that the importance of the library in the development of research and education is unquestionable; DEENK influences scientific work and also seeks solutions to modern challenges affecting the effectiveness of education. Its work in preserving and transmitting cultural values is made visible to the widest possible audience through effective communication activities. “A complex service structure has been established, and our jubilee programs also point in the direction of wanting to hear and see how our partners relate to the library, seeking opportunities to move forward through joint thinking. In the scientific field, we have developed a model that covers the four stages of the research lifecycle – planning, research work, publishing, and publication management – thereby aiming to support researchers in an era full of challenges posed by artificial intelligence. DEENK has become an organic and transparent part of university processes. For students, in addition to laying the foundations of critical thinking (information searching and management, reference management, use of AI tools), our goal is to develop so-called soft skills (self-awareness, cooperation, stress management, communication and presentation skills), while for lecturers we aim to strengthen facilitation and creative visualization skills applicable in classes.”

In connection with the anniversary, a wide variety of programs will await interested audiences throughout the year, evoking DEENK’s past, present, and future. Creative and community initiatives, playful experiences, as well as online and in-person encounters will offer opportunities for every visitor to discover the library’s diverse world from a new perspective.

Among the special programs is the DEENK25 podcast series, in which personal memories and current topics portray the institution’s diverse and human-centered character. Creative artists are invited to take part in a jubilee poetry competition that connects to the library and reading in poetic form. Plans also include a thematic escape room, where playfulness and creative thinking will take center stage.

In addition to all this, an alumni meeting will be organized in 2026, to which retired DEENK professionals and former colleagues who remain connected to the institution will be invited. As part of the program series, visitors will also be able to explore the library’s spaces through an online, self-guided tour. At the same time, several professional forums will be launched to foster dialogue about DEENK’s work, role, and future within the university ecosystem.

Source: dehir.hu