Students Explore Serbia’s Libraries + Culture

SLIM Students Traveled to Belgrade and Novi Sad Over the Summer as Part of the Global Experiences Program

For the first time in several years, students from Emporia State University’s School of Library and Information Management (SLIM) traveled abroad this summer for an immersive learning experience and an opportunity to enjoy the exchange of foreign cultures.

In May, 17 SLIM students flew to the southern European nation of Serbia and toured a number of libraries, museums, archives and historical sites. Separated into two groups, the students visited two cities perched alongside the Danube River: Belgrade, Serbia’s capital and largest city, and Novi Sad, one of Europe’s cultural centers.

The excursion was part of SLIM’s Global Experiences program that was temporarily halted during the Covid-19 pandemic. Serbia and its strong system of public libraries have been a recurring and popular destination for SLIM’s traveling parties; 11 groups of library and information management students have flown to that nation since 2011. Additionally, SLIM has coordinated Global Experiences trips to nations on several continents, including Germany, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Croatia, Scotland, England, South Africa, Mexico and Paraguay over the last two decades.

In May, ESU students spent much of their time in Belgrade touring the capital’s libraries. Some were large academic and national libraries; others were small, specialized libraries that served specific neighborhoods and populations. Afterward, the students noted that the smaller libraries were amazing at knowing the needs of their patrons and providing print and digital resources and outreach programs that helped community members stay connected.

They visited the main branch of Belgrade City Library, the largest lending library in Serbia, that encompasses more than a dozen municipal libraries and 70 branch libraries and holds more than 1.5 million items. The students toured its periodicals department, a children's library and the branch library Moma Dimić, as well as the main library in the University of Belgrade system, the University Library Svetozar Marković.

They also took in the National Library of Serbia — which today houses more than 6 million items despite its entire collection being destroyed before it could be moved to safety during World War II — its conservation lab and Belgrade’s American Corner, one of more than 400 sites operated through international partnerships with local institutions and the U.S. Department of State. Their mission is to educate residents of other nations on American democratic values and culture. Belgrade’s American Corner holds more than 5,500 titles in English. ESU students were particularly impressed by the Serbian archivists at the National Library who are restoring and preserving their nation’s history, art and cultural artifacts.

Northwest of Belgrade, SLIM students visited the second largest city in Serbia, Novi Sad, and there toured the Petrovaradin Fortress, the Historical Archives of the City of Novi Sad, the International Library of the Novi Sad Public Library and its American Corner, and the Library of Matica Srpska. Together, the two groups of ESU students visited the Historical Museum of Serbia and the extensive Roman ruins at Viminacium, an archaeological site that’s also home to Mammoth Park, where tourists can view prehistoric mammoth skeletons.

All participating SLIM students receive some scholarship support from the Martha Kruse Furbur Fund at the ESU Foundation to enable them to participate in this life-changing experience.