The National and University Library of BiH marked 75th anniversary

The National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina marked its 75th anniversary with the academy, exhibition and video projection.

With a welcome address, NUBBiH Director, Ismet Ovčina opened the Ceremonial Academy and welcomed the distinguished guests and speakers: Mr. Amel Suljović, Advisor to the Chairman of the Presidency of BiH, HE E. Šefik Džaferović, also the General Sponsor of this event, then Mr. Jasmin Branković, Assistant Minister of Science, in the Federal Ministry of Education and Science, Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj University of Sarajevo Rector, Sanja Vlaisavljević, Advisor to the Minister of Civil Affairs of BiH, as well as other present guests.

Director Ovčina expressed pride that he is the head of the institution that marks such a significant jubilee and reminded of the importance and significance of this cultural institution.
“We are proud to send the message that NUBBiH, as one of the symbols of cultural heritage, is fulfilling its honorable mission of culture, science and education” Ovčina said. He reminded that in August 1992, NUBBiH was left without almost everything, but still did not stop working. He also referred to the unresolved legal and financial status, expressing hope that this will change in the near future.

Assistant Minister of Civil Affairs of BiH, Sanja Vlaisavljević said that the NUB preserves the invaluable heritage of our country and deserves full respect of the entire Bosnian community for its cultural and educational mission over the past 75 years.
“Despite all the legal and financial problems that burden the normal operation of this important cultural institution, NUBBiH successfully meets its basic tasks, and equally represents BiH in various European and world library and information associations, in accordance with the highest standards in the field of librarianship said Vlaisavljević.

Assistant Minister of Science in the Ministry of Education and Science of the Federation of BiH Jasmin Branković said that the holiday of the NUB BiH is also a holiday of the organized library service in our country.
“NUBBiH is the umbrella, main library for this country. One of those libraries formed by states as such - it is time for those who are currently creating appropriate policies to understand that, when it comes to NUBBiH and other important umbrella institutions of capital importance” Branković said.

University of Sarajevo Rector, Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj emphasized that NUBBiH is one of the important treasury institutions and the custodian of written material created on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as this part of Europe and the Balkans.
“The institution that survived, defying all troubles, preserved written material and serious evidence of the tradition of creativity in the area of BiH, the Balkans and this part of Europe. NUBBiH is one of the most important partner institutions of UNSA, which is also an associate member” said UNSA Rector.

The general sponsor of the Ceremonial Academy marking the 75th anniversary is the Chairman of the Presidency of BiH, Šefik Džaferović, whose advisor Amel Suljović emphasized the readiness of the cabinet to responsibly and timely support the work of NUBBiH at the domestic and international level.

“The importance of the National and University Library in any country should not be explained. As a man who is closely related to the written heritage, I may be able to understand more correctly the consequences that the community will surely have in the end due to the long-term poor condition in which this institution finds itself. I hope that the NUBBiH staff will welcome the eightieth anniversary with a sustainable solution for the long-term and quality functioning of this foundation of the cultural institution in BiH, and that the national treasure of BiH stored in this institution will contribute to that” said Suljović.

The virtual congratulations were also sent by the High Representative in BiH Valentin Inzko, as well as the President of CENL and the Executive Director of the British Library Roly Keating.

The present guests had the opportunity to see a screening of a film about NUBBiH, as well as an exhibition prepared for this occasion.

At the very end, NUBBiH announced new honorary members of the Library and on this occasion handed over Honorary Membership Cards: H.E. Šefik Džaferović, Minister of Civil Affairs of BiH Ankica Gudeljević, Assistant Minister of Civil Affairs of BiH Siniša Ilić, Assistant Minister of Science, in the Federal Ministry of Education and Science Mr. Jasmin Branković and the University of Sarajevo Rector Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj.

The program of events was held in compliance with epidemiological measures and recommendations of the competent health authorities.