Advocating for Fair and Sustainable Public Lending Right Tax in Serbian Public Libraries

Abstract

In 2024, Serbian librarianship faced a major threat from a proposed Public Lending Right (PLR) tax, risking mass public library closures. The Serbian Library Association led a strong advocacy campaign, urging the government to reconsider and calling on international bodies to condemn the move. While Serbia must align with the EU’s Rental and Lending Directive, the proposed PLR scheme placed unsustainable financial burdens on libraries, endangering access to reading and public services. The campaign achieved initial success, halting the harmful proposal, but the challenge remains to ensure a revised, library-safe PLR model that supports both creators and communities.