Date and working-day status
Librarians’ Day is observed every year on 11 May as the professional holiday of Bulgaria’s librarians and information specialists. It is not a public holiday: it is a normal working day in Bulgaria.
The date coincides with the church feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius and the patronal celebration of the Saints Cyril and Methodius National Library in Sofia. The connection reflects the brothers’ role in laying the foundations of Slavic literature, a heritage that libraries preserve and pass on.
How the day is marked
Libraries mark the occasion with exhibitions, readings, meetings and open days. Professional forums also take place around the date, alongside these library events.
Librarians’ Day forms part of the period of celebrations that culminates on 24 May. Its focus is on the work of library and information professionals and the literary heritage held in their care.
Libraries and community cultural centres
Founded in 1878, the Saints Cyril and Methodius National Library holds Bulgaria’s largest collection of books, manuscripts and periodicals. It also receives a mandatory deposit copy of every publication printed in the country.
Chitalishta, local community cultural centres, have a special place in Bulgarian culture. The first were established in 1856 in Svishtov, Lom and Shumen. Today, Bulgaria has thousands of chitalishta with libraries. In small settlements, these centres are often the only local cultural hub.