First International Conference on the Written Heritage Preservation Ceremonially Opened
The First International Conference on the Heritage Preservation was officially opened at the Gazi Husrev-bey’s Library in Sarajevo on 16 September bringing together eminent field experts both local and world renowned.
The two-day conference, organized by the Gazi Husrev-bey’s Library and the University of Sarajevo, will bring together conservators and restorers employed by libraries, archives, museums, universities, as well as experts from other institutions dealing with library and archival material, as well as paper and parchment art works.
In addition to BH experts, papers will be presented at the conference by researchers and scientists from the Higher Institute for Conservation and Restoration of Rome (Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione e il Restauro), Noor International Microfilm Center, New Delhi, International the Islamic University of Malaysia (International Islamic University Malaysia), the National Library of Serbia, and the Croatian Conservation Institute.
The conference is held under the high auspices of B&iH Presidency Member, Mr. Šefik Džaferović, with the support of the Islamic Community (IS) of BiH, BH Ministry of Civil Affairs, and the Federal Ministry of Education and Science.
“The preserved written legacy eloquently testifies to the centuries-old tradition of observing, using and keeping such documents, whether it be God's revelation, ecclesiastical, canonical or sharia law, imperial law or a Sultan's decree, inscribed by immanent to them graphemes and symbols: Bosančica, Cyrillic, Latin, Arebica or Hebrew ones” said Osman Lavić, Gazi Husrev-bey’s Library Director.
He added that Library today has the institutional mission of guarding the cultural and historical heritage, and possesses treasures: 10 585 manuscript codices, 23 312 documents in Ottoman Turkish and Arabic, more than 70 000 monographs, and approx. 1000 serial unit titles.
Director Lavić reminded that, by the UNESCO’s decision to include the Library's manuscript fund, with the Sarajevo Haggadah, in the Register of World Memory, as the first movable property from BiH was made official.
University of Sarajevo Rector, Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj, recalled that Gazi Husrev-bey’s Library is a testament to the existence of the nation, its traditions and identities, and assessed that such conferences stimulate the exchange of knowledge and experience and open the door to exploring new approaches to the written heritage preservation.
On behalf of the UNESCO Office, Leila Hrelja and Amel Suljović, as the BH Presidency Member Mr. Šefik Džaferović’s envoy, wished the Conference participants a success in activities and addressed the guests, officials, ambassadors and senior political and the Islamic Community (IS) representatives.
Islamic Community of BiH Reisu-l-ulema, H.E. Husein ef. Kavazović said that Islamic Community was proud of the role that the Gazi Husrev-bey’s Library played in the cultural history of our country and its people.
“Preserving our heritage is not only the responsibility of conservationists or restorers or experts from this field. It is an obligation of all of us who value the past and recognize tradition, history and culture as sources of learning for a more dignified walk in the future” said H.E. Reisu-l-ulema.
Inserts from the documentary “Love for Books: The Story of Sarajevo” were also screened, showing the efforts of the Gazi Husrev-bey’s Library employee during the war to save the Library's written fund.
The Gazi Husrev-bey’s Library was founded in 1537 and is considered one of the oldest public libraries in this part of Europe.
Moving to the new building in January 2014, the Library opened a new chapter in its history, with a special place dedicated to the Department of Restoration and Conservation, which has the cutting edge laboratory for preserving manuscripts in BiH, and certainly one of the best in the region.
