The first in person meeting of the Equity, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion Network Group (EEDI) took place at the National Library and University Library St. Clement of Ohrid-Skopje.

The National and University Library St. Clement of Ohrid-Skopje is committed to fostering equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion through literacy and serving as a safe space for all.

Through the Enriching Library Funds with Publications project, the National and University Library St. Clement of Ohrid-Skopje enhanced its general library fund with 21 LGBTQ+ publications in 2021, including professional literature, as part of CENL’s Hidden Stories program.
Maja Micevska Rizova, treasurer in the EDI group, hosted the event, which included a brief presentation on gender equality by a UN Women representative. The findings from the 2022 research indicate a stark gender imbalance in North Macedonia’s local government, with only 2 out of 80 mayors being women. Despite some positive efforts, further analysis shows no consolidated legislature and implementation of normative acts for underrepresented groups in politics and society. Due to these issues, the National and University Library St. Clement of Ohrid-Skopje took an active role in the EDI Group.
The director Rahmetula Kuqi emphasized, “Libraries should be truly open and cater to everyone, supporting diverse needs and reflecting community diversity is important for serving all library users.“