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The paper briefly defines the concept of social reading with special reference to its manifestation in the digital age. In that context, the Bookmarker application, created within the project Improving the User Experience in Public Libraries of Serbia Using the Bookmarker Application, is presented. The basic idea of this project was to create an innovative application that promotes a reading culture in Serbia. For all library and internet users, the application offers a new reading experience, a direct exchange of information about books and communication between users, the creation of virtual themed reading rooms, book rankings, comments or annotations of books or their parts, and the possibility of sharing content directly from the application to other social networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the newly created ways of program activities during the coronavirus pandemic in the period when the Belgrade City Library was temporarily closed. The given legal framework and ways of adjusting the work to the conditions that imply social distance and closing libraries for users due to the spread of the virus and the declaration of a state of emergency are presented. The example of the Children’s Department shows the possibilities that have opened up for working in a virtual environment. The importance of maintaining contacts with users and associates and networking with other cultural workers is emphasized. The challenging situation encouraged new forms of library activities and the opportunity to transfer some of the programs from the real to the virtual space to animate the reading audience. The importance of interacting with the youngest readers is emphasized, as well as the provision of reading recommendations and relevant information in order to prevent the discontinuation of work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores activities of public libraries under changed conditions caused by the official announcement of the infectious disease COVID-19 pandemic, paying special attention to the work of the Public Library Bor during the lockdown and afterwards. Public libraries worldwide had to find a way to continue their work and to overcome fears, confronting contradictory information, as well as to make, often alone, hard decisions of what services to offer and how to deliver materials to users. Libraries were deciding on options ranging from minimal restrictions to the total lockdown. On the other hand, library users had to turn to online sources of information and services in order to satisfy their needs and interests, so that the paper also explores the effects of these new working conditions on the usage of digitized materials and virtual library services. The conclusion is that libraries should carefully evaluate their possibilities and resources, adjusting their services and programs to what people need the most. As the course of the pandemic is constantly changing, libraries need to focus on improving their virtual offers and finding the way to do so with minimum and tolerable expenses, having in mind that many public libraries in Serbia have already faced budget reductions and cuttings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the outbreak of the infectious disease covid 19, caused by the corona virus, Novi Sad City Library adjusted its work to the epidemiological situation and adopted a Plan for the Implementation of Measures for the Protection of Employees in Novi Sad City Library During the State of Emergency. In the first year of implementation of the Library’s Strategic Plan 2020–2024, the initial research of the audience is planned, as well as the fulfillment of the strategic goals of introducing innovations and developing the audience. Accordingly, in August-September 2020, a users survey was conducted, in order to gain insight into attitudes towards the way the Library operates and how to improve the user experience. In addition to accepting the measures taken within the book-loan service and suggestions for its improvement, the focus of the research was the attitude towards online library services and user predictions of the future for the library as an institution. The attitudes of the users in city departments and branches were compared with the views of the users in suburban branches and those who filled in the survey in electronic form. A wide range of online services began to develop even before the pandemic, as strategically predicted, and the expansion of the contagion has further accelerated efforts in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents how the activities of the Library were reorganized, in the changed conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Challenges that librarians have been faced with, in the context of communication based mainly on the application of digital technologies, are also presented. The specifics of the users’ perception of the changed book lending regime are pointed out. The paper gives the models of using digital platforms in designing the promotional, program, and workshop activities of the Library, due to restrictions of gatherings on the premises. The intention is to locate weak points, manifested in specific circumstances, in order to apply the acquired experience in revising goals and planning future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores activities of public libraries under changed conditions caused by the official announcement of the infectious disease COVID-19 pandemic, paying special attention to the work of the Public Library Bor during the lockdown and afterwards. Public libraries worldwide had to find a way to continue their work and to overcome fears, confronting contradictory information, as well as to make, often alone, hard decisions of what services to offer and how to deliver materials to users. Libraries were deciding on options ranging from minimal restrictions to the total lockdown. On the other hand, library users had to turn to online sources of information and services in order to satisfy their needs and interests, so that the paper also explores the effects of these new working conditions on the usage of digitized materials and virtual library services. The conclusion is that libraries should carefully evaluate their possibilities and resources, adjusting their services and programs to what people need the most. As the course of the pandemic is constantly changing, libraries need to focus on improving their virtual offers and finding the way to do so with minimum and tolerable expenses, having in mind that many public libraries in Serbia have already faced budget reductions and cuttings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thanks to the rapid development of technologies for mobile phones and other portable devices (tablets, iPods, etc.), as well as the evolution of mobile applications, what was until recently a dream now it’s a reality. We can now take a virtual tour through libraries and museums and even glance inside their treasure vaults, browse digital editions of old and rare books, examine important historical documents or manuscripts, read scientific articles online, or simply work through pending paperwork from our homes or any other place, at any time of the day or even night. The aim of this paper is to examine different types of applications and their possible use in different library services. The main intention of this paper is to encourage libraries to transform their operations by following modern trends, having in mind that almost every library user today has a mobile phone and actively uses its applications. The first part of the paper is dedicated to different types of mobile applications and their characteristics, while the second part presents several examples of good practices in the use of mobile applications in different types of libraries, both in Serbia and abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The library in Kladovo is among only four Serbian libraries that include mobile library (in a bus) known as bibliobus. Kladovo’s bibliobus has been operating since 2010, and 95% of its users are children under the age of 14, so that the most used and the most needed library material is children’s literature. The purchase of publications for libraries by the Ministry of Culture and Information of Republic of Serbia used to be a very significant means of books acquisition for bibliobus users, but this year it has not been the case. Only 1% of the budget allocated to the library has been allotted to its bibliobus, instead of up to 50% as in previous years. In 2019, only 6 books were actually ordered for the bibliobus, and all the other purchased books were obligatory, not chosen by librarians. Thus, the paper shows why the current model of purchase is absolutely inconvenient for smaller libraries and bibliobuses. The author thinks that if librarians could freely choose the titles for their libraries, with the Comission in the advisory role, the purchase of publications for libraries would be better and more effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

sThis paper is the result of the research on reading, membership, and library visits in order to encourage reading and increase the number of library users. The statistics are harsh and facts cannot be ignored. There are no excuses. In order to reach the unreached users, we have conducted a research the results of which provided guidelines for improvement of library management. We have designed several projects, two of which have already been implemented: You can loan every book, play the game in our nook and Baby library − Biblio-boy and Biblio-girl. The results of these projects are already visible and measurable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]