Libraries and Librarianship in the Republic of Macedonia

Libraries and librarianship in the Republic of Macedonia have a tradition spanning centuries, one that is linked to the work of Saint Clement of Ohrid and the first Slavic university in the monasteries on the banks of Lake Ohrid. Libraries and librarianship are the fountain springs of Macedonian culture but also the foundation of its ongoing mission. Libraries in Macedonia are following new trends and tendencies in their efforts to build a national library-information system, with shared cataloging as part of the regional library network (COBISS.net). Building on the continuous application of the traditional types of preservation of library materials along with contemporary methods and technologies, current practice has expanded to include digitalization. This has ensured easy online access to Mace-donia’s rich library holdings, offered opportunities for its written cultural heritage to be presented in both digital and traditional formats, and opened up new paths for greater international cooperation.