The trends of changes in the costs of library automation over the past twenty years in Hungary. The nature and dynamics of the market for library automation products. An overview of products used and existing databases, the value of accumulated knowledge embedded in specific solutions. Is this knowledge marketable or not? BCE Central Library - a practical solution for library automation of the past twenty years. Dilemmas in the library automation landscape: competition or cooperation? Government controlled initiatives or institution specific solutions? Buying commercial products or developing in-house solutions? Innovate all the time, or just follow major trends? How to avoid reinventing the wheel? Do intelligent search engines pose a threat to library systems?