Summary
The purpose of this paper is to present formation of the Serbian Social Library in Great Kikinda, in 1845, as the first cultural institution in this town, founded for the sake of reading books and newspapers and educating its members. Intellectual elite was fully aware of the significance of establishing such a cultural institution which has, besides its main goal, also supported the newly formed theater troupe and founded The Great Kikinda Newspaper, the first handwritten newspaper in this area. The paper presents continuity and fluctuations in work of the Serbian Social Library, conditioned by the change of social and historical circumstances in different periods. Endeavors to preserve the Serbian Social Library are also pointed out.

Keywords:
Serbian Social Library, Great Kikinda, social libraries, library fund, newspaper, programs, membership, financing, Farmers’ Social Library, The Great Kikinda Newspaper, Public Library Jovan Popović, Kikinda

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