Serbia has to preserve its heritage

BELGRADE - The National Library of Serbia has celebrated its 182nd anniversary on Friday, which also marks the National Book Day.

The ceremony was attended by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, who pointed to the institution's fundamental role in the preservation of the national identity, language and culture.

Nikolic noted that the National Library of Serbia is the oldest cultural institution in the country which is dedicated not only to compiling, preserving, protecting and using the written cultural heritage, but also to the development of culture as such.

The foundations of the National Library of Serbia rest on the vision of the country's greats, who endeavored to rebuild the state based on the ideas of Enlightenment promoted by Dositej Obradovic and the European role models, through establishing institutions of education, science and culture, said Nikolic.

He pointed out that the National Library of Serbia, which has become a symbol of an era, marks its 182nd anniversary by opening the newly-restored treasury and photo library, as well as the archaeography department.

Nikolic expressed his satisfaction over the fact that the restoration of the treasury, which lasted one year, was conducted in accordance with the latest technical and technological standards of preservation.

This is the minimum sign of respect that this kind of national treasures of the highest order deserve, the Serbian president underlined, adding that the Library's holdings include documents on parchment and paper that originated between the XIII and the XIX centuries, and scans of more than 5,500 Cyrillic manuscripts which are physically located in collections all over the world.

"I am proud that the state...