Launched in June 2024, the journal was created with the aim of bringing a new form and quality to the publishing of library and information science journals in Hungary. The new journal aims to provide an internationally competitive journal.

Keeping abreast of technological developments, encouraging critical thinking and creativity are now essential for libraries, whose role is increasingly extending to open science, science assessment and publication support. At the same time, the diversity of information media and digital content offer new challenges for librarians, who now need to acquire skills in quality management and copyright, in addition to IT skills.

In this dynamically changing environment, CELISR aims to be a stable and reliable source of transferable approaches, good practices and knowledge. The new journal will have open access and will be available online, making the latest research and professional knowledge widely available.

The inaugural issue has been published with two studies in English and two in Hungarian, presenting individual research results. In addition, the Library Outlook section features good practices, project presentations, special collections and conference reports.

CELISR is edited by the entire national profession. The editors have taken special care to ensure that the journal meets the requirements of international indexing services and journal databases. To this end, their requirements were carefully examined at the time of its creation and the workflow was designed accordingly.

Szabolcs Dancs, Head of the Public Collection Standardisation Office of the NSZL, was appointed Editor-in-Chief. The composition of the editorial board also reflects the intention of the founders, as the international advisory board of the publication is made up of Hungarian experts from Hungary and abroad, as well as representatives of the national libraries of the Central and Eastern European region.

The launch of the Central European Library and Information Science Review is a milestone for national and international library and information science, and will hopefully contribute to the development and renewal of the field.