On April 20th, 2026, an exhibition dedicated to the 40th anniversary of “St. Kliment Ohridski” University Press – a leading academic publisher in Bulgaria and an integral part of Sofia University’s intellectual mission – and 90 years of book printing at Sofia University, was presented in the foyer of Sofia University Library. The event was attended by the Rector of Sofia University, Prof. Georgi Valchev; Vice-Rectors Prof. Sonya Mileva and Prof. Reneta Bozhankova; the Director of the University Press, Prof. Valeri Stefanov; Prof. Vasya Velinova – Director of the “Prof. Ivan Duychev” Center for Slavic and Byzantine Studies, Prof. Aksinia Dzhurova, Dimitar Tomov – longtime director of the publishing house, as well as representatives of the publishing house, librarians, faculty members and students
Assoc. Prof. Bilyana Yavrukova welcomed the guests and spoke about the beginning of the university’s printing activities, which is closely linked to the history of the University Library. Tracing the connection between the two divisions of the university, she emphasized that the University Press’s publications are among the most sought-after titles in the library, which has been and will continue to be their home and most devoted guardian. The library director presented the exhibition, highlighting the wealth of the titles, published by the University Press across all academic disciplines, and drawing attention to the chronological order of the publications, which reflect the evolution of the publishing house and the expansion of its subject scope over the decades.
In his speech, Prof. Georgi Valchev stated: “Through the press, it is possible to read the academic history of the University. We have passed through a romantic period, starting from a small printing press for printing index cards for the library, only to become a leading publisher of scientific literature, making the scientific output of colleagues from all faculties accessible to the general public both in the country and abroad.” Prof. Valchev expressed his hope that in the coming years the University Press will continue its work in the same spirit, will find the strength and resources for innovation and development, and wished it further success in the years to come.
The director of the University Press, Prof. Valeri Stefanov, thanked the University Library for commemorating the press’s 40th anniversary through this exhibition and emphasized the connection between the University Library, the printing house, and the publishing house – institutions that have worked in close collaboration from the very beginning and have formed a unified literary environment within Sofia University.
Founded in 1986 to mark the 100th anniversary of Sofia University, today the “St. Kliment Ohridski” University Press publishes an average of about 350 titles annually and maintains an active distribution network, including its own bookstores and an online platform, combining tradition with modern book publishing approaches.
Prof. Stefanov highlighted the professionalism of the University Press staff and thanked them for their dedication.
The first director of the University Press, Dimitar Tomov, spoke about the process of establishing the press, the difficulties during the transition period when state-run publishers collapsed, and how, thanks to Sofia University as an institution, the Press still continues to evolve. “Forty years have flown by in the blink of an eye. And the colleagues, with whom we started, have remained the same. We first exceeded 400 publications per year in 1992, and we have maintained this tradition ever since. To publish a book in print every day – that is a miracle,” said Dimitar Tomov.
The exhibition “40th Anniversary of “St. Kliment Ohridski” University Press” can be visited until May 8th, 2026, during the Central University Library’s working hours.
