The Serbian Library Association (SLA) is a voluntary, independent, non-profit, and professional organization that unites library and information science specialists throughout the Republic of Serbia.
Established on 14 December 1947 at the University Library Svetozar Marković in Belgrade, the Association has maintained uninterrupted activity for more than seventy years, dedicated to the advancement and development of library and information services, the strengthening of professional standards, and the promotion of librarianship as a discipline.
The SLA encompasses nearly 2,000 registered members, with approximately 1,000 renewing their membership annually. Its primary source of funding derives from membership fees, while project-based activities receive support from the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia. Additional resources are secured through donations and sponsorships.
Organizationally, the Association is structured both territorially and professionally, covering all districts of Serbia. It comprises 24 regional branches, while its professional work is carried out through 12 expert committees focused on specific fields and four sections organized by library type.
Since 2001, the Association has continuously organized international scientific conferences, serving as a platform for the exchange of knowledge on the development of librarianship and emerging information technologies. These conferences attract numerous distinguished domestic and international experts and are consistently accompanied by the publication of proceedings and collections of abstracts.
The Association publishes the professional journal Bibliotekar, first issued in 1948. After a hiatus between 1997 and 2006, the journal was revived and has been published regularly since. Since 2009 it has held official scientific status granted by the Ministry of Science.
The SLA has been a member of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) from 1950 until the mid-1990s, and again since 2007. It was also a member of the European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations (EBLIDA) from 2009 to 2018 and again since 2025.
Since 1997, the Association has awarded the prestigious Stojan Novaković Prize for published works in the field of library and information sciences. Since 2006, it has also conferred the Zapis and Best Librarian awards to encourage and motivate domestic professionals.
The highest governing body of the Association is its Assembly, composed of delegates from all branches. In accordance with its Statute and the Law on Citizens’ Associations, the Association is led by a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and managed by both an Executive and Supervisory Board.
The Association celebrates Librarians’ Day on 14 December, commemorating its founding in 1947.
- First President: Milica Prodanović
- Current President (since 2023): Jelena Glišović (predsednik@bds.rs)
- Vice-President (since 2023): Mirjana Nešić
Administrative details:
- Registry Number: 209
- Activity Code: 9412
- Identification Number: 07070942
- Tax ID (PIB): 103999973
- Bank Account: 105-0518803000023-33, AIK Bank