From 8 – 15 March 2025 the Bulgarian Library and Information Association (BLIA) is holding the 19th National Library Week on the theme of Libraries – Mission Possible, with a series of events throughout the country. The campaign has been organised in partnership with the Global Libraries Bulgaria Foundation, and is being implemented with the support of Sofia Municipality as part of their 2025 Calendar of Cultural Events.
The Bulgarian Library and Information Association is a voluntary independent professional-creative organisation that unites library specialists, regardless of departmental affiliation, who work to improve library and research-information activities and raise the profile of the profession. The National Library Weeks have aimed throughout the years to showcase libraries’ potential to legislative, executive and local authorities, as well as to the public at large.
National Library Week 2025 will focus on the activities of BLIA, GLBF and libraries throughout the country, with an emphasis on the Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec (2023) and accompanying Guidelines on Library Law and Policy in Europe. For libraries to continue to be vital centres of information, education and research and repositories of national memory, we appeal to government authorities to take urgent measures to improve the condition of Bulgarian libraries:
- The library sector needs a new and consistent strategy for its development at the national policy level
- Libraries should be recognised as the main guardians of literary cultural values in the Cultural Heritage Act.
As library professionals we call for sufficient library policies and for guaranteeing the right of Bulgarian citizens to use modern libraries, so that they may be equal citizens of the EU and fulfill their responsibilities as modern individuals that contribute to the development of society.
During National Library Week, hundreds of libraries across Bulgaria will meet with local government representatives and other stakeholders, and open their doors to show their local communities how they can assist them in all activities to improve their lives.
Programme
- Official opening and Annual Library Awards (2024) on 8 May at 18.00 at the St. Kiril and Methodius National Library.
- 7 May at 17.00: opening of the Libraries – Mission Possible exhibition at 1 Bulgaria Square, National Palace of Culture Park, next to Kabana Cinema. The exhibition will present libraries in all their diversity and highlight their wide variety of roles and activities: as guardians of literary heritage; democratic spaces for access to information; modern information centres; cultural centres; social spaces; places for access to technology and innovative services; places that promote reading, training and equal opportunities; third places for everyone; locations of national memory; centres of research. The exhibition includes photos of all types of library throughout Bulgaria.
Full National Library Week programme
National Library Week 2025 Brochure
More information about National Library Week 2025 is available at the BLIA website