A museum bestseller about Pannonia’s beetles
Talking with the authors, Ottó Merkl and Károly Vig
MúzeumCafé 31.
It rarely happens in the life of Hungarian museums that an impressive book is published regarding not only its size but also content, moreover in two editions. In addition to comprehensively introducing 1800 species and 114 beetle families, the 500-page Beetles in the Pannonian Region is simply beautiful. With its 700 photographs and drawings, the volume –winner of the Beautiful Hungarian Book 2009 prize in the category of scientific works, text books and higher education publications – illustrates the beetle fauna of the geographical region which is somewhat bigger than Hungary but smaller than the Carpathian Basin. The book, which is useful for amateurs and experts, was published jointly by two museums. It is a great achievement that the first 500 copies were quickly sold and that a second edition appeared in the current financial climate, especially considering that it is relatively expensive. Information about the book has spread by word of mouth, although it is available only in two places in Hungary, the Hungarian Natural Science Museum in Budapest and the Directorate of Vas County Museums in Szombathely. The first edition could be published thanks to two applications for support from the National Cultural Fund and to copies bought in advance. The second edition was financed by the Szombathely Museum. The book and museums can have an important role in calling attention to preserving the natural environment and bio-diversity. It is said that the biosphere also bears signs of ‘Mcdonaldization’, i.e. flora and fauna begin to become the same across the world. It is not true that if a species disappears another replaces it. In reality, far less valuable ‘dump species’ move in to take the place of extinct ones.