Ostalo
155 Years of Municipal Library and Reading Room in Jelsa and Short History of (Public) Libraries On Hvar Island
Zorka Bibić Pilloni
orcid.org/0000-0002-2234-9612
; Gradska knjižnica i čitaonica Hvar
Sažetak
The library and reading room in Jelsa, founded in 1868, is the oldest institution of its kind on the island of Hvar and among the Central Dalmatian islands. It emerged from the initiative of local promoters of ideas and efforts tied to the Croatian National Revival, as the final step in the decades-long development and modernization of Jelsa, with its establishment considered the beginning of the modern history of this island settlement. It has operated almost continuously for over 155 years. This paper aims to shed light on the lesser-known and rarely mentioned history of the reading room from the end of the First World War (1918) to the present day, particularly the fluctuations in its activities caused by social changes and cultural trends, considering the fact that most authors so far have focused on the "golden age" of this institution, i.e., from its founding in 1868 until the start of the First World War (1914). In the interwar period, it was primarily open to Jelsa's social elite and tourists. After the Second World War, its activities gradually diminished to a minimum, largely due to a lack of funding, continuous neglecting by authorities, and the rise of mass-produced, inexpensive publishing, which encouraged book purchases—a fate shared by many libraries of that time. Finally, in the 1990s and early 2000s, libraries became important factors in cultural policies, and the Jelsa library distinguished itself due to its continuous operation and the exceptional role of its then-director in cataloging its materials. The library burned down in a fire in 2003, and after an extensive process of acquiring materials and reconstruction, it reopened in a nearby building in 2014. Over the past decade, it has become an important community center.
The paper also provides a brief history of libraries on the island of Hvar, from the earliest ones within churches or monasteries, over lost private collections, to those in small island settlements, which were, in fact, the first modern social gathering places and generators of cultural activities. Today, there are three active public libraries on the island of Hvar: in the town of Hvar, Stari Grad, and Jelsa, along with several private ones and/or those associated with specific church or secular institution.
Ključne riječi
public library; Jelsa; Hvar; Stari Grad; Croatian National Revival
Hrčak ID:
337400
URI
Datum izdavanja:
1.10.2025.
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