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Visiting the National Library of Serbia

The National Library of Serbia
Photo: Bobby Graham

Bobby Graham (centre) with Tamara Butigan (left) and Vesna Injac-Malbaša
Photo: Sreten Ugričić

On a recent trip to Belgrade, Serbia, I thought it would be interesting to visit the National Library of Serbia. My introductory email to the Director did the trick and on a hot Tuesday morning, I slogged up the hill to the Hram of Sveti Sava with an appointment and presentation in hand.

I arrived a little early for my meeting with Sreten Ugričić, the Director, so caught my breath examining the outside of the building. The low-rise complex dates back to 1973 and is set in a pretty park, below the Hram and not far from Trg Slavije, a busy Belgrade square. In the evenings the area surrounding the fountains and the lawns is full of families enjoying the balmy air. At this time of day, there were only a few people sitting on the benches.

Entering the building, I was met by Tamara Butigan who works in the Digital Library. She took me to the Director’s suite, where I was surprised when welcomed by Sreten in sandals, orange trousers and a T-shirt. I gather that casual gear is fine for the summer months.

I had turska kafa (black coffee) with Sreten and Vesna Injac-Malbaša, Deputy Director and Manager of Programmes and Projects, in the Director’s attractive office. Sadly, I discovered that their reading room has been closed for two years. There is a problem with funding, which has prevented them completing the renovations. Library business continues as usual for the 250 or so employees, but until the reading room re-opens, they have no contact with the public.

Leaving the Director’s suite, Tamara guided me to their training room where I gave a presentation (in Serbian) about our Library to a small group of interested staff. After the formal talk, I met with their web publishing staff to discuss issues of mutual interest. Their problems range from a lack of resources—their technical designer had left—to publishing all content three times over: in Cyrillic script, in Latin script, and in English.

I left the Library having made some new friends and gained a better understanding of another national library’s business.

Bobby Graham
Web Content Manager, Web Publishing