Katona József Könyvtár, Kecskemét

In the last decade of the 19th century more and more attention was given to the development of public education and the cultural affairs in Hungary. In 1894 a governmental decision was reached with the aim of organising libraries and museums in the country. Since 1897 the supporters had been allowed to claim for considerable state grants in order to be able to run their institutions. Taking into consideration the considerable amount of the state grant, in 1897 the Council of Kecskemét Municipal Borough, on suggestion of Elek Kada, mayor of the town, made a decision concerning the foundation of a public library which still was not separated - regarding its structure - from the museum and the archives. Its location was a temporary one in the large room being on the second floor of the Town Hall built in 1896. The stock organised by Károly Szilády, an archivist, comprised mostly the historical and legal books, out of use, of the municipality.