PUBLIC LIBRARY BEČEJ – Bečej

The Public Library in Bečej was founded in 1976 through the merger of previously independent libraries in Bečej, Bačko Gradište, and Bačko Petrovo Selo.

The first forms of library activity in this area date back to the mid-19th century. In 1862, the Serbian Reading Room was founded, and in 1868 the Hungarian Reading Room was established. In addition to these institutions, numerous “libraries” were founded over the following decades, as almost every civic association had its own reading room with several hundred books.

Today, the Bečej Library has the status of a central (parent) library and is located on the main street in one of the most beautiful buildings in the town.

The building was constructed at the beginning of the last century, around 1908–1909, by the Viši family. Karolj Viši served as the Royal Public Notary in Bečej from 1883 to 1920. The building was nationalized in 1946 and served until the 1960s as a home for war orphans from the territory of the former FNR Yugoslavia.

Since 1960, the building has housed the Public Library Bečej.

The library collection consists of around 98,000 books in Serbian, Hungarian, and English. It includes an Adult Department and a Children’s Department in Bečej, with branches in Bačko Gradište, Bačko Petrovo Selo, and Radičević.

Services include lending books for home use, access to encyclopedias, reference books, periodicals and newspapers within the library, book presentations, literary events, exhibitions, creative workshops for children, and photocopying services.