Brought to you by the IFLA Local History and Genealogy Section

—-

In April 2023, a multimedia exhibition was held in the National Library of Serbia (NLS) to mark the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the construction of New Belgrade, a new part of the Serbian capital. An attempt has been made to revive the memories and images of an unrepeatable time of enthusiasm and hope in post-war (WWII) Yugoslavia.

Thematic panels/posters brought to life segments of the reality of that time. Short original films from 1948 and photo material significantly contributed to the authenticity of the exhibition. However, the most significant achievement in light of modern presentation of library and archival funds was the introduction of first 36 digitized numbers of Novi Beograd newspaper, a newspaper of the voluntary youth brigades who were building the new city in the first year of labour actions.

In this way, the comprehensiveness of the presentation was obtained with a desire to save one year and one era from oblivion. It is important to note that with such approach the NLS fully responded to challenge of the new age and the recommendations of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) for preserving and presenting the cultural treasures it owns. Everyone can now read every line, every page or admire the authentic photos as all 200 pages of first 36 issues from 1948 are permanently stored in the NLS virtual space on the Internet. Thus, all researchers and interested parties are enabled to have an insight into the archive material through the Internet, which speaks quite authentically about one time, one country, one city and one generation.

Author: Dragan Milošević, MA, IFLA Local History and Genealogy Section Member, Historian, Senior Librarian Monographic Publications Department – National Library of Serbia