Appeal to save the National and University Library of BiH: Can it become a teaching base for UNSA and thus solve its finances?

(Patria) - The Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Youth of Sarajevo Canton expresses deep concern over the announcements of the closure of the National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina (NUB BiH) due to the financial problems currently facing this institution. The press release from this Ministry states that it continuously provides support to the National and University Library of BiH, recognizing its exceptional historical, cultural, and social significance for our country.

“Even before the adoption of the Law on Temporary Taking Over of Co-financing of Cultural and Educational Institutions Founded by Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry regularly co-financed the work of this institution according to the planned funds in the budgets of Sarajevo Canton.

The Law was adopted in April 2024 as a response to the long-standing shortcomings of the financing system that led to the current crisis in which the library finds itself. It does not fall under the jurisdiction of the state, but it represents significant support for the stability and continuous functioning of the cultural institutions of Sarajevo Canton. The Government of Sarajevo Canton is the only government that has attempted, through any legal act, to alleviate the challenges that cultural institutions have faced for years. Given that the Law was adopted only in April 2024, and the Proposal of the Budget of Sarajevo Canton for 2024 was adopted much earlier, even before the Law itself was put into procedure, the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Youth of Sarajevo Canton had an allocated amount of 220,000 KM for these purposes in the relevant budget item,” the Ministry stated.

They also emphasize that the minister, Prof. Dr. Adna Mesihović, had previously presented this issue as a priority to the Government of Sarajevo Canton and requested that an appropriate solution be found.

“It saddens me that the Budget of Sarajevo Canton for 2024 does not include sufficient funds to cover the majority of NUB BiH's costs and that the implementation of this Law's measures is not aligned with the Budget Proposal for 2024. Also, the Ministry I lead has the smallest budget compared to all ministries of the Government of Sarajevo Canton,” stated Minister Mesihović.

As stated, regardless of all the above, the Ministry, in accordance with the adopted Budget of Sarajevo Canton for 2024, which could not be influenced afterwards, fulfilled its obligations, and the planned amount for co-financing the work was paid to the National and University Library of BiH.

“It is devastating that some levels of government, by referring to and shielding themselves with this Law, have denied their social responsibility to support the work of cultural institutions, and thus the Federal Ministry of Education and Science has this year abolished support for the National and University Library, which was significant and amounted to 550,000 KM in the previous year, and 430,000 KM in 2022. This year, they announced a Public Call for the allocation of funds, as in previous years, but they added a new condition, which is that the funds cannot be used for financing employee salaries. This has further put the National Library in a difficult position, and denied them the opportunity to secure at least the same or a similar amount as in previous years.

This year's abolition of support from the Federal Ministry of Education and Science, which amounted to 550,000 KM in 2023 and 430,000 KM in 2022, has further complicated the library's financial situation. The new conditions for the distribution of funds, which do not allow for the financing of employee salaries, have put NUB BiH in a difficult position,” the Ministry claims.

They add that Minister Mesihović, together with her team, is actively working on solving this problem, but inter-sectoral cooperation is needed for a solution.

“In my work in recent months, I have suggested to the Government of Sarajevo Canton that this problem is a priority and of high importance, and that, regardless of other levels of government and regardless of the fact that the Law obliges us to co-finance the work, not fully finance it, we should find the best solution to at least temporarily solve the financing, if nothing else, of the basic conditions for work, which are employee salaries.

As a minister, I have also had the opportunity to speak personally with the library employees and I could not help but react.

At today's Government session, I intend to once again emphasize the importance of supporting the National and University Library of BiH and request urgent intervention funds through the reallocation of funds from other budget items or a budget rebalance. This would be a temporary solution for a start.

“However, I believe that the long-term solution is the transformation of the National and University Library of BiH into a teaching base of the University of Sarajevo, which would ensure stable and regular financing. I am pleased to see and grateful on behalf of all library employees, as well as service users, for the support that the National and University Library receives daily from various educational and other institutions. Given that in the coming period I will initiate strong negotiations with the University of Sarajevo and the Government with the aim of accepting this initiative of ours, I am glad that the Institute of Language of UNSA, as well as some faculties of UNSA, have sent a clear message that the National and University Library of BiH is the base of science and scientific excellence from which all processes should start.

With this solution, we would certainly get a National and University Library of BiH that, along with its rich history, would become a modern and efficient institution similar to global examples.

My personal stance, as well as the stance I hold as minister, is the same, and that is that the National and University Library must remain a vital part of our educational and scientific infrastructure, accessible to researchers and readers not only in BiH, but also around the world,” concluded Minister Mesihović.