The National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina 56 Years of Cultural Mission

Dr. Enes Kujundžić

Abstract

This paper examines the establishment in 1945 of the National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo. It also examines the various stages through which the Library has passed, until its fatal destruction during bombardment in August 1992. Its remarkable recovery as an institution was not followed by the quick reconstruction of the old Library building, which will take some years to realize. Lastly, there is a discussion of typical activities performed by various departments of the Library including its future prospects.

BACKGROUND

The National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Nacionalna i univerzitetska biblioteka Bosne i Hercegovine, abbreviated as NUB BiH) in Sarajevo were destroyed on the night of August 25‐26, 1992. The precious collections of books, archival materials, and periodicals representing the memory of many generations perished during the bombardment. The Library catalogue, together with an irreplaceable collection of journals published since the middle of 19th century in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was also lost. Only a small portion of the Library holdings was saved and is now housed in five different locations within the city.

The written records in various languages and scripts were witnesses to the multiethnic, multicultural, and multi‐religious character of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The NUB BiH housed more than 2 million books and periodicals and other items, most of which were catalogued according to international bibliographic description standards. The Automated Library Catalogue had been started a few years before the war, and the staff was provided with training in modern information technology, and carried out library and information research.

In accordance with prevailing legal deposit regulations, the National Library received all publications that were produced in Bosnia and other parts of former Yugoslavia from its establishment in 1945. The Library was given additional responsibility in 1957, when the National Library also became a University Library. Many generations of the University's students remember the spacious halls of the former Town hall, or Vijećnica, the popular name by which the Library was known. This landmark and symbol of the City of Sarajevo was built at the end of the 19th Century in the pseudo&8208;Moorish style, which prevailed in public building construction during the Austro‐Hungarian administration in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1879 and 1918.

COLLECTIONS AND SERVICES

Of particular interest for visitors to this Library were the special collections of early rare books including incunabula, collections of manuscripts in different languages and scripts, audiovisual material, and a collection of music scores. In addition, the Library was a depository of significant official documents, archival material, private papers and other written data of particular importance to the cultural and political history of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Furthermore, it held documents containing the history of education in the country, as well as the private papers and letters of some famous Bosnian writers and unpublished texts of short stories, poems, and a number of plays by anonymous authors. Archival material consisted of posters, public announcements, postcards, obituary notices, as well as a collection of photographs of important personalities, natural sites and architectural landmarks of the country and the city of Sarajevo.

The Department of Special Collections in The National and University Library was created in 1951. The important documents it contained bear witness to the cultural history of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Among the six different sections, manuscripts and rare books were the most valuable.

Thanks to the multicultural character of the country, these collections contained works of Bosniak, Croatian, Serbian and Jewish provenance, as well as works in Latin, English, German, Italian, French, Turkish, Hebrew, Arabic and other languages. Historical circumstances made the country a crossroads of different cultures, including not only different languages but also a variety of scripts, i.e. Latin, Cyrillic, old Bosnian, Glagolitic, and Church Slavonic, as well as documents in the Bosnian language written in an adapted Arabic script known as alhamijado.

NUB BiH possessed a number of rare books of significant importance to the cultural history not only of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also of other parts of southeastern Europe. These were printed books of particular value as to their age, artistic beauty, and historical significance, which satisfied at least some of the criteria, required for this kind of library material. The collection of rare books in the National and University library amounted to 4,000 exemplars originating from the period between the 15th and 20th Centuries. The majority of them dealt with law, religion, philosophy, grammar, history, literature, and to a lesser extent with natural sciences.

As an institution, NUB BiH was the most important source of scientific information for the research community of the Country, as well as the heart of the cultural and intellectual life of Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Library acquired and processed domestic and foreign books and journals in addition to doctoral dissertations, scientific projects, government and international publications, particularly those from UN organizations, of which the majority originated from UNESCO.

On a regular basis, representatives of the Library took part in international library conferences and exchanged correspondence with more than 200 renowned libraries and other research institutions worldwide. The automation of some library activities started ten years ago and was based on up‐to‐date information technology. The library staff provided reference services to interested users through on‐line access to both domestic and remote international databases.

NUB BiH today is the main focal point for library science and information research in BiH. It provides guidance within the framework of research and development to university, municipal, school, and other types of libraries not only in Sarajevo, but also in the other parts of the country. It organizes seminars and conducts professional examinations, which culminate in the award of Librarianship certificates.

University education in library science is provided by the Faculty of Philosophy’s Department of Comparative Literature and Librarianship in Sarajevo. Greater efforts in the future will be concentrated on creating a more suitable library education program, thereby improving the subject teaching of technical and information services at the University level.

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

In its capacity as a research institution, NUB BiH issues on a yearly basis a current bibliography of Bosnia and Herzegovina for monographs and serials. A few years ago a project on retrospective bibliography was initiated, starting from the beginning of literacy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is hoped to continue this work with greater participation of members from the research community representing all fields of sciences and arts. Future efforts will take into consideration the material on Bosniaca existing in foreign library collections and research institutions. It is also hoped that the results of this research will be published as they become available.

Also of great importance is the continuation of the project concerning the origin and history of books and periodicals of Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly when taking into account the need for the reconstitution of the collections lost during the war.

The bibliographic control of scientific production in Bosnia and Herzegovina should be one of the priorities. The awareness campaign related to the reconstruction of the Library will be supported by continuous publishing activities related to the cultural heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well. See, for example, the website of the Bosnian Manuscript Ingathering Project http://www.kakarigi.net/manu/ingather.htm and the website “From Ashes: The Fate of the National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina” http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/6777/library.htm.

PERSONNEL

Before the war, the Library employed 108 persons in various departments: today only 67 are working. It is hoped that in the near future the Library will again be able to fill all of its positions. Strong efforts are being made to initiate education and training programs for librarians with a view to upgrading library and information education in general for the entire country of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Currently active departments in the library are:

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

The National and University Library was established in 1945 by the Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport. It is financed from the national budget of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The Library’s management is led by the Director and advised by the Governing Board (seven members). A scientific collegium deals with professional matters.

With its professional staff and documentary resources, our Library is well prepared to serve the different information requirements of the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

VIJEĆNICA

With reference to the old library building — Vijećnica, the long‐term goal is to revitalize it and make it a home for rare books, manuscripts and archival material documenting the cultural identity of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as a memorial of the barbaric siege of the City of Sarajevo (1992–1995).

NEW LIBRARY BUILDING

In order to accommodate the growing volume of documentary records of BiH, a completely new Library building will be needed, with an area of approximately 20–25,000 square meters.

Having in mind the important role which NUB BiH plays in the cultural and scientific life of Sarajevo and BiH, among our priorities will be to find the financial resources for the continuing reconstruction of temporary premises, provision of funds for the acquisition of library materials, journals and monographs, CD–ROM’s, subscriptions to selected on–line information services – OCLC, DIALOG, BLAISE LINE etc., the purchase of equipment and the training of requisite personnel.

NUB BiH should be structured as a modern library, balancing traditional and digital resources, and oriented toward the mission of the University in education, research, and services provided as a National Library.

Its collections should include domestic and foreign resources. The ultimate aim would be to create a full text electronic archive making available on a world wide basis the literature of/on Bosnia and Herzegovina as a country with a centuries long tradition of tolerance and cultural pluralism.

The reconstruction of NUB BiH should serve as a model for the reconstruction of other libraries and information centers in BiH. Wherever possible, collaboration with friendly countries should be sought to establish groundwork for useful cooperation.

The library automation package should be open for development and adaptable as needed to local requirements (language, script etc.) and accessible from the outside, including foreign users.

FUTURE PLANS:
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

The Library will carry out short–term and long–term education and training of librarians of the highest professional standards. Every effort will be made to implement research programs in various fields of librarianship.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

NUB BiH cooperates with the Council of Europe, UNESCO, IFLA, FID, ISBN and the ISSN agency, and is open to expanding this activity to include new institutional partners and associations through various twinning programs (exchange of staff, publications, etc.)

PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION

Every effort is being made to enable the Library to become the focal point for the preservation and restoration of library material in BiH through trained personnel and modem technology. Collaboration with interested libraries and organizations abroad is sought for this important endeavour.

RECONSTITUTION OF BOSNIACA

Bosniaca is an irreplaceable and unique part of the documentary memory of Bosnia and Herzegovina within the context of southeastern Europe. It is only natural therefore, that, after the Library was mostly devastated in the destruction of Vijećnica, the priority task will be to reconstitute its collections and to bring them back to life. UNESCO convened a meeting of the Expert group on the Reconstitution of Bosniaca at the National Library in Prague, 25–26 November 1994. Bosniaca is defined as all documents written or published in any format on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina in its historical framework, regardless of the languages and scripts in which they were written or published, and materials about Bosnia and Herzegovina in every territory or in any language, regardless of the author’s original. Various examples of this library material (monographs, serials, maps, etc.) still exist, not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also in some other countries of the world, particularly those immediately bordering on BiH.

Through modern information, reprographic and scanning technology, financial resources, and the good will of host institutions and librarians it will be possible to recover at least some of the lost documents and make them available to became part of the collection of National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.

DIFFICULTIES FACING THE LIBRARY

RECENT RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS AND WEBSITES

“Bosniaca: A Bibliography of University of Michigan Library: Holdings Related to Bosnia and Herzegovina.” Online at http:// www.unesco.org/webworld/sarajevo/cover_page.htm

“Fighting the Destruction of Memory: A Call for an Ingathering of Bosnian Manuscripts.” Website of the Bosnian Manuscript Ingathering Project. Amila Buturovic (York University). Andras Riedlmayer (Harvard University). Irvin C. Schick (Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University). Online at http:// www.kakarigi.net/manu/ingather.htm Includes an updated listing for more information at http://www.kakarigi.net/manu/moreinf.htm

Kujundžić, Enes. “From Ashes: The Fate of the National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina.” Website online at http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/6777/library.htm

Litwin, Rory. “Libraries in Bosnia and Palestine.” Library Juice 4:32 (September 12, 2001). Online at http://www.libr.org/Juice/issues/vol4/LJ_4.32.html

Nacionalna i univerzitetska biblioteka Bosne i Hercegovine. The National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Official website at http://www.nub.ba/

“National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina.” In The International Dictionary of Library Histories. Vol. 1, 453–454. Chicago and London: Fitzroy-Dearborn, 2001.

“Revival of the National and University Library Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.” Website of the International Assistance Programme maintained by UNESCO. 21 January 1997. Online at /Sarajevo/Sarajevo.htm» http://www.unesco.org/webworld/sarajevo/sarajevo.htm

Riedlmayer, András. “Convivencia Under Fire: Genocide and Book Burning in Bosnia.” In The Holocaust and the Book. ed. Jonathan Rose, 266–291. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press.

Riedlmayer, Andras. “Libraries Are Not for Burning: International Librarianship and the Recovery of the Destroyed Heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina.” Paper presented at the 61st IFLA General Conference August 20–25, 1995. INSPEL International Journal of Special Libraries. Volume 30–1 (1996): 82–94. Online at http://www.fh–potsdam.de/~IFLA/INSPEL/61–riea.htm

About the author

Enes Kujundžić is Director of The National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Email: ekujundzic@nub.ba