BOOK DONATIONS FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY UZICE IN SERBIA

For past 19 years, I have been a librarian in New Zealand and during that time I have collected 3000 monographs (as my personal collection) written in English, French, Italian, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, German, Russian & Dutch languages that I wish to donate and send to the small public library in my hometown Uzice in Serbia where I grew up.

The cost of shipping and transporting the collection throughout Europe until it reaches Uzice is $15,000 NZ minimum. The shipping is as problematic as are the customs rules and regulations and fees that I am required to pay. I have been trying to find the solution for this in past 4 years without success and the only way left is to try and collect donations and use that money to send the books via post (mail) to the remote community.

The Public Library Uzice is one of the oldest libraries in Serbia serving the population of more than 52 000 youth, researchers and citizens. It was founded in 1856 as the cultural and social hub of the city supplying smaller rural, public, special and school libraries in the district.

As the consequence of the 1990s civil war which devastated the economy of the entire region, the Public Library Uzice is in dire need of donations as follows:

1. book donations (in different languages published in 21st century and e-collection)

2. monetary donations for building reparations and maintenance

3. essential furniture (desks and shelving)

4. digital equipment and PCs for public use.

For more information about the Book Donations for Public Library project, please contact Neda Zdravkovic at neda.campos@gmail.com or Dusica Muric, Public Library Uzice Director, at direktornbu@gmail.com.