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The aim of this paper is to present the development of librarianship in Serbia through the analysis of crisis that affected the Serbian Library Association and libraries in the country. The Serbian Library Association (SLA) is the oldest and biggest professional library association in Serbia, established in Belgrade in 1947. The history of SLA to a certain degree reflects the modern history of the region of ex-Yugoslavia, with all of its high and low moments, including the breakdown of Yugoslavia in the 1990 S. This paper will analyze the correlation between the broader social and economical circumstances in the country and the functioning of a professional association tightly connected with the level of state investments in culture and education. The paper will show which circumstances led to several crisis in the history of SLA for the past seven decades: - constitutional years, - the "small crisis in 1980s, - the "big crisis in 1990s, - the current crisis triggered by the global economic crisis in 2008, which still pressures the region. The analysis will include several numerical categories, which will enable comparative data for different periods: number of SLA members, SLA's publications (journal "Librarian in the first place), held conferences and other professional gathering S. The analysis will compare these factors for each of the periods, as a means of providing quantitative data for comparison, for better understanding the impact external factors had/has on the SLA and its functioning. Another aspect of analysis will be the writings published by librarians running the SLA during the analyzed period. That way it will be possible to gain an insight on the main topics that took attention of librarians, in an effort of revealing the dynamics of social and economical changes that had an impact on libraries and their employees, as well as on the Serbian Library Association.
Usage of Public Space and Media for Library Advocacy: Public Library Cacak New Building Case Study
(2018)
The City of Cacak in Serbia in 2009 decided to purchase vacant Army Cultural Center for the needs of Public Library Cacak, which from 1946 is waiting for own permanent building. From 2010 to 2015 an optimal architectural solution was on agenda of the City officials, unfortunately almost without any participation from the representatives of the Library in making decisions or voting for the best solution.Nevertheless, the Library staff managed to promote, advocate and lobby all these years to obtain the new building only for library purpose, as part of the local community felt that 3,500 square meters for Library would be just too much in the city of 100.000 inhabitant S. The marketing strategy of librarians was to use all available public space and media attention to stipulate that such project was not planned and executed in Serbia for almost three decades, at least in the public libraries sector. At the same time, politicians were appealed with the prospect of having such a project during their term, with the City of Cacak becoming the leading city in Serbia with the size and modernity of its public library. This strategy proved successful, as from 2017 the Army Cultural Center is under reconstruction, with an expected opening of new Public Library Cacak in late 2018. The whole of building will be just library, which is also big success for the librarians in an unfavorable environment.This paper will analyze used methods for library cause advocacy in public space and media, through public events, Library events, formal and informal meetings, as well as media (print, electronic, Internet). Special attention will be devoted to the long lasting effects of advocacy, promotion and lobbying on the creation of institution´s new image in modern society.