On the 4th and 5th of June 2026, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” hosted the XXXVI National Conference of the Bulgarian Library and Information Association (BLIA), organized in collaboration with the Faculty of Philosophy at Sofia University, the Department of Library and Information Studies and Cultural Policy, and the University Library “St. Kliment Ohridski,” with the support of the “Global Libraries – Bulgaria” Foundation.
At the conference opening, welcome speeches were delivered by Prof. Sonya Mileva-Bozhanova, Vice Rector and Chair of the Library Council; Prof. Sonya Karabeliova, Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy; Assoc. Prof. Milena Milanova, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy; Assoc. Prof. Kalina Ivanova, Chair of the Bulgarian Library and Information Association (BLIA) and Director of the “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” National Library, and Assoc. Prof. Elitsa Lozanova-Belcheva, Head of the Department of Library and Information Studies and Cultural Policy at Sofia University. Assoc. Prof. Kalina Ivanova read a congratulatory message from Ms. Iliana Yotova, President of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The director of the University Library, Assoc. Prof. Bilyana Yavrukova, delivered a plenary report titled “The role of the University Library “St. Kliment Ohridski” in ensuring open access to scientific and educational literature”.
Over the two days of the conference, library professionals presented reports, presentations and posters, and discussed topics related to ensuring equal access and inclusion in libraries; libraries as spaces for dialogue and community; libraries in support of education and lifelong learning; information reliability, information and media literacy; copyright and intellectual property in the digital age; creation and management of digital content; innovative and modern library services; open science and scientific communication; artificial intelligence and new technologies in librarianship; digital humanities and literary & documentary heritage; best practices and successful library projects.
Three workshops were held: International and local perspectives on copyright law for academics (in English); The 2030 agenda for sustainable development: digital inclusion and the role of libraries in achieving the sustainable development goals (a workshop organized as part of the TELL project – Trans-European Learning Libraries); BiblioVibe – energy for reading, ideas, and creativity (for school librarians).
As part of the cultural program accompanying the conference, a visit to the Central University Library was organized. Librarians from across the country learned more about the library’s history and toured the Laboratory for the Digitalization of Documentary Heritage, the Laboratory for Conservation and Restoration of Rare Books, and the Sofia University Museum.
