National and University Library Anxiously Awaits the End of the Year

The reconstruction works on the “Vijecnica” building in Sarajevo proceed slowly. By decision and agreement of the City and Cantonal authorities, the building will be used for slightly different purposes, to the effect that only a third of the total available space will be dedicated to the National and University Library. Before its was destroyed in 1992, the Library had the whole building to itself. The 12th anniversary of the bombardment of the Vijecnica, commemorated today, was used by the President of the National and University Library, Enes Kujundzic to reiterate the problems faced by the institution. He emphasized that the Library did survive all the problems it faced and that 12 years later, although housed in inappropriate facilities, it conducts its functions professionally and with dedication. However, the greatest problem faced by the Library remains the failure to implement the Law on Pursuit of Library Activities, especially the provisions that regulate its financing by the state. At the moment, the Library gets the majority of the necessary funds from the Government of the BH Federation, with some assistance coming from the Government of the Sarajevo Canton. For this fiscal year, the Federal Government decided to reduce the financial support by 50%, which is far from enough to provide for unimpeded functioning of the Library. The National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina was established in 1945. It was destroyed in the artillery bombardment on August 25/26, 1992. Priceless collections of manuscripts, old books, magazines, archives and other materials (documentary heritage of B&H) disappeared in the fire.