Immediately after the liberation of Skopje in March 1945, a decision was made to establish a library in the city. Following prior preparations, on November 15 of the same year, the library began its cultural and educational activities with an initial collection of 3,500 publications, of which 500 were children’s literature. Part of the collection was taken from the pre-war library that operated from 1935 to 1940, while another part was donated by the citizens of Skopje. From its founding until the end of 1955, the library functioned as the City Library, and from 1956, when it was renamed the National Library of the Skopje District, it began to serve as a library center for the region.
As the parent institution, the library has made significant efforts to expand the library network by opening branch libraries in both urban and rural communities. The first branches were established in the villages of Studeničani, Bulačani, Kučevište, as well as the branch library in the Taftaliḱe neighborhood, known as “Dimitar Vlahov.” Additionally, in 1972, a mobile library was established with an initial collection of 8,286 books, successfully serving 14 villages and the wider urban area. Today, the mobile library’s collection numbers over 60,000 items, and it serves approximately 3,000 members annually.
On February 18, 1974, the City Library “Brakja Miladinovci” – Skopje merged with other independent libraries in the municipality, forming a unified institution with three central libraries and 20 branch locations. Over its existence, the library has relocated several times: from part of the building of the “Goce Delčev” Elementary School, to a modular structure in the “Karpoš 1” neighborhood, and finally to the newly purpose-built building in 1973, which it still occupies today.
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The library began with only four employees, but today it has a professional staff capable of handling the most complex library processes. The entire book collection is cataloged according to international standards, and the library maintains both mandatory and specialized catalogs following the UDC (Universal Decimal Classification), as well as a central catalog providing a complete overview of all branch libraries.
With complete modernization and automation, the library joined the COBISS system in 2004, providing a modern library and information service. Equipped with advanced technology and a skilled staff, the City Library “Brakja Miladinovci” has become a modern center that significantly contributes to the development of library services in Skopje and beyond.