The raconstruction and revitalization of the interior of The National library of Serbia

THE NATIONAL LIBRARY of SERBIA

The reconstruction and revitalization of the interior of NLS

"The building of the National Library of Serbia can not answer to all demands of the users in the condition in which it is now. Our suggestion is to alterate the entrance hall, the check-in desk and information desks, the reading room, the cafe, toalets and our plan is buying new desks for the users, enlarging the information structure, buzing new computers and making the interior illumination better. We will trz to keep the outern sight of the building because it is protected by the Government." Sreten Ugričić, the manager

The National Library of Serbia (NLS), established in 1832, is the oldest cultural institution in Serbia.

The main mission of the library is protection, presentation and promotion of the cultural inheritance to this country and the world and giving all needed information to citizens of Serbia and the users around the world. Thats why NLS has a long-term strategy where their main goals are the dvelopment of an informational encirclement, building a knowledge society and developing a model of a lifelog learning.

The new building of NLS exists since 1973 as a masterpiece of the world known architect Ivo Kurtović. But during this 30 years of working in this building, an information explosion on a world level has occured which lead to a complete change of concepts of work in the libraries around the world. That's the reason why the reconstruction and revitalization is necessary for future success. The circumstances of perserving the inheritance, of over 900 writings in ćirilica and inkabula, in the vault are worse than any european standard prescribe.

About 1.000 people are using the services of NLS pro day, and the capacity of the reading rooms is not enough. The services of NLS have changed a lot during the last few years because they are always trying to keep up with the changes in the information-technologic environment. Over 5.000 "virtual" users from Serbia and the world are using the electronic service provided by the NLS, which is 1.5 millions users a year.

The reconstruction and revitalization is necessery beacuse that is the only way for the library to have an advanced role, not only in our society, but on an european and world level too. It's central position on the Place of Sveti Sava is a good foundation for the development of cultural tourism, and the profiles of it's users (students, explorers, scientists) is a foundation for developing a knowledge society.

If one of the main strategy goals of the Reepublic of Serbia is to create a knowledge society and belonging to the EU, than we are sure that that goal can be fulfilled without promoting the conditions of work in the NLS. Only an informed citizen who is ready to learn and improve his whole life can become a true citizen of Europe and the global union of knowledge and information society. That is the reason why the National Library of Serbia is a top informational and cultural capital in the Republic of Serbia.

The main goals of the reconstruction and revitalization of the interior of NLS has several segments:

- inner reconstruction of the Library - the entrance hall, reception and information desks, all the reading rooms, the cafe, toalets, exchanging the desks in the reading rooms for 500 using places, 200 new desks and chairs for the new reading rooms, additions to the informational infrastructure, new computers in all reading rooms, reconstruction of inner illumination;

- a coplete informatic-technologic equipment, additions to the informatic infrastucture, new optical cables, setting up new working stations and computers on all using places.

- establishment of a project for the reconstruction of the vault for keepeng the precious inheritance of NLS - middle age writings in ćirilica and inkabulas, which means creating the best protection measures according to all the standards

With the fullfillment of this ground goals, the NLS will become a modern building, functional and ready to take more users and their demands for informations (the reading room capacity will be larger for about 30%). Only then the library will be in the position to keep and present the cultural treasure according to the world standards. They will then be in the position to include themselves in the library network, and lead the library network in Serbia. Then they will be able to become a partner in creating a digital library, which is one of the biggest projects of the EU.

The total sum of the project: 2.168.000 evra