Salkić: Merlin's visit was touching, but it shows that people share our grief

Many good people have opened their hearts to Maglaj, we constantly receive help from colleagues, publishers, and citizens from all over BiH who send us books or have organized campaigns, said Nina Salkić, director of the General Library for the Bosnian news agency Patria (NAP).

Yesterday's visit by Bosnian singer-songwriter Dino Merlin to this town and the library was of great significance for the affected population.

- His encounter with that devastated space was touching. He said that it is hard for us now, we carry books, let everyone in BiH carry them, first physically, and then they will be in their hearts. Perhaps this will be a step towards promoting the book and what it will mean tomorrow to young people who previously had no affinity for books - said Salkić, conveying Merlin's words.

Salkić emphasized that it is important that people in such situations show empathy and want to help. She added that they received the first shelves as a gift from the publishing house "Zoro" from Sarajevo.

- We are grateful for all donations, but our biggest problem remains the flooring because after the flood, we had to remove all 400 square meters of parquet - said Salkić, adding that in Bihać, professors and students of the Faculty of Law, as well as other faculties, have launched a large campaign to collect books in the Una-Sana Canton, which ends tomorrow.

- There is an interesting situation with high school graduates from Tuzla who, in their graduation suits and dresses, each held a book in their hand as a sign of solidarity - Salkić pointed out.

Tonight at 7:00 PM, a gathering organized by the Society of Writers will be held in the library premises.

- The people who will be with us want their arrival, besides bringing us about 2,500 books, to be a motivation for citizens, for ourselves and others, to help us in the restoration. It is a step of support and an indicator that they share our grief - said Salkić.

The arrival of eminent writers Goran Samardžić, Ljubica Ostojić, Zilhad Ključanin, Mujo Musagić, Sabina Malićbegović, Fuad Kovač, Marina Brkić is expected, as well as the opening of an exhibition of paintings by Zekerijah Nalić, an academic painter from Sarajevo, and the program will also feature the famous actress Minka Muftić.

Incidentally, this year the General Library will mark its 56th anniversary, NAP reports.