Bibliotekar: 1948–1997

Abstract

Based on archival documents and published reports, the paper presents the history of the journal Bibliotekar (Librarian) from its launch in 1948 until the end of the 20^th century, when it temporarily ceased being published. The key challenges related to the conceptions and editorial policies of the journal, its cooperation with libraries, and the provision of thematically and formally diverse but high-quality and timely articles are analysed. There were also problems related to financing and the regular periodicity of the journal with which the editors were dealing all the time trying to maintain a periodical that would represent, guide, and improve all aspects of the profession and the professional association of librarians in Serbia. Some necessary adjustments to the unsteady systemic rules and ideologically informed working conditions of professional journal publishing in Serbia are also illuminated.

As a tool for librarian(ship) formation and positioning in the wider fields of cultural and educational activities, national culture and science, the journal often faced insufficient financial support from state authorities, usually unable to obtain the necessary funds in other ways, thus always being in crisis. Moreover, as a professional informative and educational organ, the journal and its editorial board faced a lack of interest among the local public librarians and, accordingly, the lack of certain types of contributions, the uneven development of professional competencies, and the launch of competing serial publications within the Republic of Serbia and the common state. The archival material testifies to how the Serbian Library Association as the issuing body and the editorial boards tried and to some extent succeeded in overcoming or bypassing the mentioned and other obstacles to maintain the continuity of the publication with varying success for almost half a century, solve the issues of its distribution, and improve its professional and scientific importance.