A renovated and modernized Information and Lending Department covering 500 square meters was opened at the National and University Library of Republika Srpska in Banja Luka.
Republika Srpska Assistant Minister for Culture Tanja Đaković, who attended the opening ceremony, said the National and University Library is continuously working to improve conditions for reading and borrowing books.
“The relevant ministry continuously provides institutional support, and a great deal has already been accomplished. The reading rooms have been renovated, an elevator has been installed to provide access for people with disabilities, and a children’s department has been opened,” Đaković said.
She emphasized that facilities and equipment are not the most important elements of cultural institutions such as the National and University Library. Rather, she said, it is the readers and librarians who, through their knowledge, dedication and professionalism, preserve and pass on Serb spiritual and cultural heritage.
Library Director Ljilja Petrović Zečić said the department held around 60,000 books in 2000, while its collection has since grown to 140,000 books and the library now has 16,000 users.
“The renovation and modernization of the department was carried out with the support of the Republika Srpska Ministry of Education and Culture, the Office of the President of Republika Srpska and the BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs. Readers can now enjoy a pleasant environment,” Petrović Zečić said, adding that the department is among the most modern of its kind in the region.
She noted that one of the department’s new features is a dedicated comics zone, featuring an extensive collection that is attracting a growing number of readers.
Senior librarian Aleksandra Rendić described the department as the heart of the National and University Library of Republika Srpska, where users borrow books and exchange their reading experiences.
Rendić said the number of users is increasing every year, with young people making up the largest group. She added that crime novels and thrillers are currently among the most sought-after titles, along with books on psychology, popular medicine and philosophy.
The Information and Lending Department is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Source: RTRS
