The more than 110 years old Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library with its 48 branch libraries and the Central Library situated in the 23 districts of Budapest is the biggest library network in Hungary and the special reference library of sociology.It was Ervin Szabó, sociologist who established the public library network in Budapest at the beginning of the 20th century. The Central Library started operating in 1931 in its present building, in the historical Wenckheim Palace. This neobaroque palace was built between 1887 and 1889 according to the plans of Arthur Meinig, and it was restored and enlarged between 1998 and 2001. Now its decorative rooms can be seen in their original beauty, telling us about the richness and elegance of the former possessor family, the Wenckheim family. In the renovation two more building were connected to the original one, which provide more points of interest. The Europa Nostra Prize and the Architectural Award for Excellence winner building complex together with the neighbouring Pálffy Palace welcomes both readers and visitors in the heart of Budapest.
