On 12 October, librarians and those who like reading organised a special party in Taverna. Biblioparty, as they named it, was the main event which brought a new bookmobile to the Central Library of Srečko Vilhar Koper, and took the old but still preserved bookmobile to National and University Library Banjaluka.
The Central Library Srečka Vilharja Koper was able to make the donation to National and University Library Banjaluka of the bookmobile because they got a new one which was ensured by City Municipality Koper and Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia.
With the old bookmobile the books in Slovenian will reach Slovenians in BiH. National and University Library Banjaluka will use it for establishing library activity in Banjaluka, and within the network there will be dedicated bus stops for the members of Slovenian community in BiH. As Dejan Valentinčič, secretary in the Office for Slovenians Abroad, said there were approximately 500,000 Slovenians living abroad, while in Banjaluka there were several thousand.
“Together with the Association Triglav our citizens will be able to get acquainted with Slovenians culture and customs because the bookmobile will also contain books in Slovenian, making an integral part of the valuable gift,” Tatjana Dunović from the National and University Library Banjaluka said. The action of collecting Slovenian books was led by Slovenian general libraries and joined by all general libraries. It is worth mentioning that the project was supported by the Office for Slovenians Abroad.
Nataša Kajmaković, vice-president of the Association Triglav Banjaluka was happy to say that the arrival of bookmobile in BiH, the first one of the kind in the country, was extremely important for Slovenians: “It will significantly contribute to accomplishing our goal to preserve Slovenian language and culture.”
Old bookmobile was presented by Central Library Srečko Vilhar Koper for permanent management while the National and University Library will carry out bookmobile activity for the members of the Slovenian community in wider area of Banjaluka. Special bookmobile stops will be organised in Slatina, Laktaši and Banjaluka.
