MATICA SRPSKA – Novi Sad

The oldest cultural and scholarly institution of the Serbian people, the literary, scientific, and cultural society Matica srpska, was founded in 1826 in Pest, and in 1864 it was relocated to Novi Sad, where it remains today.

Its mission was to promote education and the development of Serbian literature, which led to the launch of the journal “Letopis Matice srpske”, considered the oldest continuously published literary journal in the world. Numerous significant initiatives were started and carried out by Matica srpska, including the edition “Knjige za narod” (1885–1932), the Novi Sad Agreement (1954), the Orthography of the Serbo-Croatian Literary Language (1960), and the six-volume Dictionary of the Serbo-Croatian Literary Language (1967–1976).

From Matica srpska emerged the Museum of Vojvodina and the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of Vojvodina. Within its structure remain the Library of Matica srpska, which holds the status of a national institution, the Gallery of Matica srpska, and the Publishing House of Matica srpska. Due to its exceptional importance for Serbian culture, the Law on Matica srpska was adopted in 1992.

Matica srpska changed its headquarters several times within Novi Sad. Since 1928, it has been housed in a building constructed in 1912 according to the design of architect Momčilo Tapavica for an orphanage founded by Marija Trandafil, the greatest Serbian benefactress. The building is located at the corner of Matica srpska Street and Svetozar Marković Street.

LIBRARY OF MATICA SRPSKA

The Library of Matica srpska is the oldest Serbian library of national importance and the first public scholarly library among the Serbs. It was established in 1826 in Pest alongside the founding of Matica srpska, naturally emerging as books were gathered within the literary society.

The founders of Matica srpska, led by Jovan Hadžić, stated that their goal was the “wider dissemination of literature and the enlightenment of the Serbian people, that is, to publish and spread Serbian manuscript books.”

Today, the Library of Matica srpska holds more than 3,000,000 books and other publications in its collections. It receives a mandatory copy of all printed publications from Serbia. Its holdings include 671 old manuscript books, the largest collection of Serbian books from the 15th to the 18th century, and the richest collection of Serbian periodicals from the 18th and the first half of the 19th century.

The library preserves numerous legacies and donor collections as separate units. It exchanges publications with 350 libraries and related institutions abroad. Cataloguing and bibliographic work has been automated since 1989, and it produces CIP records for publications in Vojvodina. As of August 2007, its electronic catalogue contained 970,000 records.

The library provides access to domestic and international databases, develops extensive publishing and exhibition activities, and performs restoration and conservation in its modern laboratories. It also carries out central library functions and organizes professional examinations for libraries in Vojvodina.

1 Matice Srpske, Novi Sad

+381 (0)21 527 622 fax: +381 (0)21 528 901

[email protected]

www.maticasrpska.org.rs