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On 15 September, the 100^th anniversary of the Mihály Pekár Medical and Life Sciences Library of the University of Pécs was celebrated at the Medical School with a conference, an informative short film and an exhibition. Unique both in its collection and readership, the library plays an important role in supporting medical, dental and pharmaceutical education in Pécs.

„Through our events, we presented the history of an institution that has served as a quiet, but indispensable support for science, education and healthcare for a century, and will continue to do so in the future. One hundred years is not only a significant milestone for a library, but also a story built on the work, knowledge, dedication and service of generations” – said Péter Besse, Head of the Mihály Pekár Medical and Life Sciences Library, on the occasion of the anniversary.

He emphasized that the library is a specialized higher education library supporting medical, dental and pharmaceutical education in Pécs. It covers more than 1000 m², offers reading rooms with 200 seats and tens of thousands of specialist books. He highlighted that, in terms of its collection and readership, the library is considered unique, especially in Baranya County.

Dr. Dóra Zelena, professor and Head of the Institute of Physiology at the University of Pécs Medical School, recalled the life and career of Mihály Pekár, former Dean of the Medical School of the Elisabeth University in Bratislava. She explained that, in addition to his teaching and research activities, he played a key role in institution building, the relocation of the university to Pécs, and the establishment of an independent medical library at the faculty. He was the head of both the library and the Institute of Physiology, which he founded, until his death in 1942. „He not only taught and conducted research but also created an institution and a tradition that make his legacy significant for today’s generation as well” – she mentioned.

A presentation on the history of the Mihály Pekár Medical and Life Sciences Library highlighted the principles that guided its founder in establishing the library. Librarian Csilla Szabolcsi explained that Pekár took the Medical School Library of Pázmány Péter University as a model, while aiming to make access to specialist literature more widely available, particularly to students. In 1926, he opened two rooms for this purpose at the Institute of Physiology and provided the necessary staff to ensure their operation. The collection was transferred to the library of the university in 1946. Following the establishment of the independent University of Pécs Medical School, the need for a separate medical library emerged again, leading to the establishment of the library in its present form in 1970.

Professor Tamás Tényi, Director of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the Clinical Centre of the University of Pécs, emphasized in his speech the importance of preserving and passing on the values that Mihály Pekár represented. He highlighted the „Famous Professors of Pécs” book series, launched in 2019, featuring prominent members of medical education in Pécs: Dr. Camillo Reuter, Dr. György Romhányi, Dr. Jenő Ernst, Dr. Soma Fekete, Dr. Károly Berde, Dr. Ödön Kerpel-Fronius and Dr. Szilárd Donhoffer. He noted that their careers and legacies come to life through personal recollections, analytical studies, historical documents, photographs and written communication.

At the ceremony, the first episode of an educational short film series about the history of the universities in Pécs was screened. It highlights the important role of Mihály Pekár in the relocation of the University of Pozsony during the war-torn period of the 20^th century. Another highlight of the event was the opening of an exhibition entitled „Dedications to Mihály Pekár” on the third floor of the Medical School. The books on display show how medical science has developed, while the signed copies and personal notes offer a glimpse into the history of the period.

Regarding the future of the library, Péter Besse, Head of the Mihály Pekár Medical and Life Sciences Library, said that its services met the requirements of the modern age, on the other hand expanding the study area will be necessary to better meet the needs of students.

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Dávid Verébi