Károly Kokas

He has been a member of the Klebelsberg Library (and its predecessors) of the University of Szeged (SZTE) since 1983. He obtained his doctorate in 1985. He has been the deputy director general of IT and information at the library since 2004. He has also taught library IT at SZTE for about 20 years.

As a librarian, he has been working in the field of computerization in libraries since 1986, and specifically in library automation since 1987. He has been an active internet user since 1989. Since 1992, he has been leading various courses within the framework of the National Information Infrastructure Development Program (NIIF).

Member of the NIIF Technical Council since 1998. Founder and IT expert of the Electronic Information Service (EISZ) Committee since 2000. Member of the Networkshop conference organizing committee since 1996. Since 1993, he has participated in the founding of the Hungarian Electronic Library (MEK), mentoring its integration into the NIIF system and its inclusion in the National Széchényi Library (OSZK). Member of the board of the MEK support association.

From the beginning, he was interested in what would later be called digital humanities, especially its library aspect; he is actively involved in both. He has about 150 publications, most of them in library informatics and digital humanities.

Professional assignments and memberships: 2017 – Digital Humanities editorial board member; 2014 – Hungarnet board member; 2009 – National Research Infrastructure Development Roadmap (NEKIFUT) project expert aiming to survey the national research infrastructure; 2011 – Hungarian National Library of Science (MTMT) IT Committee member; 2008-2010 – Hungarnet Ethics Committee chair; 2004-2012 – Hungarnet Ethics Committee (member, then chair), Hungarian Electronic Library Association board member since 1999, 1999 – NIIF Technical Council member, 1994 – NIIF Networkshop organizing committee member, 1996 – Hungarnet Library Department chair, 1994 – NIIF Internet project manager.

Awards: Award of the President of the National Assembly (2014); József Szinnyei Award (Minister of Human Resources, 2014); Hungarnet Award (2009); Award for Hungarian Higher Education (Minister of Education and Culture, 2006); Kalmár Award (NJSZT, 2000); Minister of Culture Commendation (1987).