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INTERMUNICIPAL LIBRARIES AT THE TIME OF LOCAL

ADMINISTRATION AND DECENTRALISATION IN KOSOVO

RAMADAN BESHIRI

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Introduction

Kosovo has an area of 10,880 km2, while the population is around 2.5 million. The Albanians make more than 92% of the Serbs about 6% population, while the others 4% and are: Turks, Bosnians, Croats, Ashkali, Roama and others. Parent library in: Pristina, Mitrovica, Peja,Prizren and Gjilan. Since 2000: Ferizaj, Leposavic and Gjakova

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The Library system in Kosovo – a short review

The network of libraries in Kosovo is consisted of 332 libraries:

Intermunicipal:8 Municipal:110Academic:35 Special:10Primary sholl:143

Secondary:43American Corrners:3 British

Council:1

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Public libraries and their mission, role

The Public Library is a local gateway to knowledge, provides the basic conditions for education throughout life, independent decisions on the cultural development of individuals and social groups. (Manifest).

The role of libraries is very important for the transformation of Kosovo from a multicultural into an intercultural community of all citizens.

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Inadequacy (shortage) of Library space and equipment in intermunicipal libraries

Chart 1: Space of Intermunicipal Libraries until the end of 2009 / Standards for Public Libraries 54.880m²

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Inadequacy (shortage) of Library space and equipment in intermunicipal libraries

Otherwise, the aspect of space in these libraries is satisfied at the level of about 11.98%.

Average square meters space per inhabitant in the Library in Pristina has it fulfills the space needs only 1.99% provided for by the standards, in Gjakova is 29.1%, 10%, in Peja 11.6%, in Ferizaj 4.1% in Prizren 7.9%, in Mitrovica 16.2%, the Library in Leposavić 28.1%. For a community of less than 980,000 inhabitants, the appropriate standard is 56m ² per 1,000 inhabitants.

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Inadequacy (shortage) of Library space and equipment in intermunicipal Libraries

Chart 2: The space of all Intermunicipal Libraries until the end of 2009 / Standards for Public Libraries

Intermunicipal libraries in Kosovo are in possession of only 11.98% of the space required by the standards.

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Intermunicipal Library “Ibrahim Rugova” in Gjakova

Figure 1: The new building of Intermunicipal Library "Ibrahim Rugova” in Gjakova

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Inadequacy (shortage) of Library space and equipment in intermunicipal Libraries

The building has 1630 m2, the reading room, space for adults, for children and youngsters. From January up to nowadays in this library have been registered 2073 users (in 2009 there were 1458 users).

Standards provide for 15% membership coverage of the population, but one of the crucial factors to increase the number of library members is its size and attractiveness of the library.

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Figure 2 Intermunicipal Library "Hivzi Sulejmani" in Prishtinë, a three-story building.

This three-story library building has space of the department for children, youngsters and adults, the space for serials, the reading rooms and one chamber-music hall, a

total space of 5789m ² out of 22,400 m² of the space required by standards.

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INTERMUNICIPAL LIBRARY IN PRISTINA

Figure 3: Model of the Intermunicipal Library “Hivzi Sulejmani” in Prishtina

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CONSTRUCTION OF HOLDINGS (LIBRARY COLLECTIONS)

Chart 3: Collection of books in intermunicipal libraries in Kosovo at the end of 2009 / standards for public libraries.

Construction of library materials is done according to international standards and must be current and represented all areas of human knowledge and creativity, in order to meet the

needs of users of all ages and diversity of their educational and cultural levels.

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According to number of population in certain libraries

According to number of population in certain libraries , library collection size depends on the type to witch the library . The results that the libraries posses: Prishtina 12.07%,

Gjakova 24.88% Gjilan 2.05, Peja 23.71%, Ferizaj 22.04%, Prizren 60.84%, Mitrovica 52.96%, Leposavic 2.05% per habitats. According to the standards, the holdings in these libraries should have been 1.470.000 units, but Chart 4: Collection of books in intermunicipal libraries and population they have only 561,481

units at the end of 2009 (volumes).

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The total number of volumes is 561.481, while the number of

inhabitants in all these towns is 980.000

Chart 5: Number of book units per inhabitants in Intermunicipal libraries at the end of 2009

It is obvious that these libraries do not satisfy even the minimum of standards, as only 0,57 volume belongs to one inhabitant.

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Collection of books and number of members in Intermunicipal libraries

Chart 6: Collection of books and number of members in Intermunicipal libraries at the end of 2009

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Number of volumes per inhabitant in Intermunicipal libraries

According to the number of volumes of 561.481 and the number of members, in these intermunicipal libraries we have books per user (member): Prishtina, 15.73, Gjakova:25.6 Gjilan 32.54 Peja 17.93 Ferizaj 7.99 Prizren 21.64 Mitrovica 96.29 Leposavic 40.94 volumes.

Chart 7: Number of volumes per inhabitant in Intermunicipal libraries at the end of 2009

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Library staff in public libraries

Total workers 105: 55 with high degrees: 36 women and 19 men. 7 master of library. With secondary schools are 50: 33 women and 17 men. The national structure of employees is:94 Albanians, 7 Serbs, 3 Bosnians, 1 Turk and 1 Roma. 8 intermunicipal libraries operate there are around 980.000 inhabitants and employees only 105.

Users and professionals

Standards for public libraries stipulate that 15% of the population. Because in all these cities there are about 980.000 inhabitants and 22.359 library members and the outcome is that 15.2% of the population are registered in the libraries.

Chart 8: Number of registered members (users) in intermunicipal libraries at the end 2009 / standards for public libraries.

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Total number of registered members in all Intermunicipal

libraries

Chart 9: Total number of registered members in all Intermunicipal libraries at the end of 2009 / standards for public libraries

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Library corner for minorities in intermunicipal libraries

Multicultural public libraries and their collection:The intermunicipal libraries possess holdings in total of 561,481 volumes:59% of the material is in Albanian, (Albanians make 92% of the population).While 40% of the materials is in languages for developing multiculturalism and for supporting intercultural dialogue, in Serbian and Croatian,32% of volumes (the population is around 6%). Intermunicipal Library can urge intercultural dialogue: , I think that libraries with their holdings can contribute to the transformation of Kosovo from a multicultural into an intercultural community with library materials around 32% volumes in languages of the minorities in Kosovo. Out of the total number of 561,481 volumes:327,622 are in Albanian,186,296 in Serbian and Croatian languages, 15,959 in Turkish, 11,408English, 2297 in the Bosnian language and 17,899 in other languages.

Kutak na Bosanskom jeziku

Figure 4: Corner in Bosnian language – the Library in Mitrovica

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American Corner and British Council

Figure 5: American Corner the Library in Prizren Figure 6: American Corner the Library in Mitrovica

Figure 7: The British Council the Library Gjakova

For understanding and acceptance of diversity belongs to the American The Corner has a total of Corner in Prishtina: 3660 books and 1100 Prizren and Mitrovica copies of audio visual and that of the British material. Council in Gjakova

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Infobuses(Bookmobiles) and their role

Figure 9: Bookmobile the Library in Mitrovica

Figure 8: Bookmobile the Library in Prizren

The Bookmobile besides the access to information and borrowing books in rural areas has as well as the role of cultivation the cultural identity of minorities and development of multicultural cooperation through the library. The task is to ensure free access, to serve to monoculture as well as to multicultural, to become a meeting point and a place for approaching people.

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Interlibrary cooperation

Great attention is paid to interlibrary cooperation in the country and abroad.

Especially is encouraged the twinning between intermunicipal libraries in Kosovo with libraries in Albania, France, Croatia, with the aim of getting to know each other’s culture.

The Prishtina City Library has been twinned with the: Public Library of Durrësand Public Library of Zadar

The Mitrovica City Library with: Public Library of Fier, The Ferizaj City Library with: Public Library of Vlorë, The Peja City Library with: Public Library of Krujë, The Gjakova City Library with: Public Library of Shkodër, The Prizren City Library with: Public Library of Elbasan and The Gjilan City Library with: Public Library no. 5 of Tirana and

also with the Library “Bogdan Ogrizovic” in Zagreb. The Mitrovica City Library has a successful cooperation with

the Central Public Library from Brest (France).

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The role of decentralization

The decentralization of governing authorities which is provided for in the Ahtisaari Plan.

Decentralization is the best way to improve the lives of all communities in Kosovo.

Decentralization should be transformed into a productive and positive reality for all.

Libraries have the duty to act and develop their activities in all fields of culture and contribute to the promotion of culture. Library diversity is extremely important in the transformation of Kosovo from a multicultural into an intercultural community.

Tolerance and mutual respect. Our laws and our strategy are carrying out promotion of

interethnic and civic tolerance, because we are committed in building a democratic Kosovo.

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Intermunicipal libraries in local Government and decentralization

The local government of Kosovo consists of 30 municipalities and 3 pilot municipal units with a broad range of responsibilities in many areas, but also they are working in constituting of 6 (5 +1) new municipalities as well as for conversion of existing pilot municipal units into municipalities with full rights.

Martti Ahtisaari plan for Kosovo proposes and encourages the establishment of five new municipalities: Gracanica, Klokot, Partes, Ranilug and North Mitrovica. This Plan implies foundation of new libraries, thus number of public libraries in Kosovo will increase.

Local government reform and decentralization requires the establishment of new municipalities, the gradual transfer of responsibilities from central to local government institutions.

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Legal and financial framework and national strategies for

development Based on the Law for Libraries of Kosovo and the UNESCO Manifesto

for Public Libraries and international standards, there were adopted the Rules for public libraries, Regulations for the Register of libraries, Ethical Code for librarians, etc.

The Public Libraries of Kosovo have their origins in the founding of the first libraries in the year of 1513. Vakufname was founded by poet Suzi Celebi from Prizren.

In the next frame the plan for development of public libraries should contain a particular understanding (recognition) of the irreplaceable role of public libraries in the cultural, scientific, educational, economic and overall social development of local communities, et.

There are two important components: 1 User needs in harmony with librarians’ visions, as a long term development plan, 2 Dedication to users’ education, retaining and increase the number of users and offering new services.

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Conclusion

With the three parties Memorandum of understanding for delegating (transferring) the responsibilities of intermunicipal libraries to the municipal level, Intermunicipal libraries since 2010 have been managed by Local governments of authorized municipalities.

With the cultivation of cultural diversity, library is extremely important for the transformation of Kosovo from the multicultural into an intercultural community of all citizens, based on understanding and acceptance of diversity as a comparative advantage, to contribute to the achievement of minority rights, cultivation of multiculturalism.

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Thank you

Ramadan Beshiri email: ramadanb2001@yahoo.com

ramadanb2001@gmail.comTel. mob. ++38649238572,

++37744272764