Национална библиотека (Saint Cyril and Methodius National Library of Bulgaria)

Established in 1878; The Bulgarian National Library “Sts. Cyril and Methodius” is the oldest cultural institute after The liberation of Bulgaria in 1878; The largest public Library in Bulgaria; The building – an architectural and artistic cultural monument of national significance; One of the 46 members of the Conference of European National Librarians (CENL);Member of IFLA; The Library’s collection contains nearly 8.5 million documents; Every year it receives about 70 000 publications; Depository for all documents published in Bulgaria;Total online and physical visits of the Library in 2025 – 206 629;Total number of annual library cards issued in 2025 – 34 291;The total number of the files in the Digital library is 956 088, distributed in 28 498 records, organized in 15 collections. Total workers in the Library – 218, 23 of them are with disabilities. The Library preserves unique archival documents, manuscripts, letters and notebooks related to some of the most revered figures in Bulgarian history, including Vasil Levski and Hristo Botev.Among the Library’s special collections is the original stage costume worn by the world-renowned Bulgarian bass Boris Christoff in the title role of Boris Godunov at London’s Covent Garden in 1958. The costume was donated to the Library in 1996 by his wife, Franca de Renzis Christoff, and is permanently exhibited in the Library building. The Library maintains permanent exhibition showcases presenting representative publications donated by national libraries, cultural institutions and diplomatic missions from around the world, reflecting its long-standing international partnerships and cultural exchange.The Digital Library provides worldwide access to Bulgaria’s written and documentary heritage through hundreds of thousands of digitized files and collections. As both a research institution and a cultural centre, the Library regularly hosts exhibitions, literary events, book presentations and international cultural initiatives.