Overview
In May 2025, the National Library of the Republic of Moldova, supported by CENL’s Skills and Knowledge Exchange Bursary, carried out a successful professional visit to the National Library “Saints Cyril and Methodius” of Bulgaria. The visit marked a significant milestone in the cooperation between the two institutions, resulting in the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation and the opening of a “Book Corner of the Republic of Moldova” in Sofia. These efforts aim to promote cultural exchange, strengthen bilateral ties, and enhance the visibility of Moldovan heritage in Europe.
Meetings
- Meeting with Mrs. Kalina Ivanova, Director of the St. Cyril and Methodius National Library of Bulgaria and President of the Bulgarian Library and Information Association (BBIA) – May 7, 2025
- Meeting with Mrs. Snejana Yoveva, Director of the State Cultural Institute under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria – May 7, 2025
- Meeting with representatives of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria – Ms. Silvana Tsokova, Head of Public Activities and Cooperation Department, and Mr. Christian Alexandrov, Associate of the Department – May 7, 2025
- Participation in a special program interview broadcast by the Bulgarian National Radio – May 7, 2025
- Participation in the semiannual meeting of the Public Libraries Section of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) – May 8, 2025
- Attendance at the official opening of the 19th edition of National Library Week and the Annual Awards Ceremony 2025 of the BBIA, held at the St. Cyril and Methodius National Library of Bulgaria – May 8, 2025
- Participation in the opening of the Moldova Corner at the St. Cyril and Methodius National Library of Bulgaria – May 9, 2025
- Signing of the Cooperation Agreement / Memorandum of Understanding between the National Library of the Republic of Moldova and the St. Cyril and Methodius National Library – May 9, 2025
Dates of the visit
6-10 May 2025
Institutions visited
- St. Cyril and Methodius National Library of Bulgaria
- State Cultural Institute under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria
- Bulgarian Library and Information Association (BBIA)
- Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria
Documents signed
On May 9, 2025, a Cooperation Agreement / Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the National Library of the Republic of Moldova and the St. Cyril and Methodius National Library of Bulgaria, aiming to foster collaboration in the fields of librarianship, bibliography, scientific information, and manuscript collections.
Opening of the Moldova Corner
On May 9, 2025, I participated in the opening ceremony of the Moldova Corner at the St. Cyril and Methodius National Library of Bulgaria, with the participation of Consul Victoria Goreainov from the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Bulgaria, as well as representatives from the cultural sector.
A significant part of the exchange was dedicated to learning about KBR’s ongoing projects, including Beltrans and MetaBelgica, which provided valuable perspectives on metadata workflows and linked data applications. In turn, the Latvian team presented the Digital Library of Latvia and the national Digital Cultural Heritage platform, showcasing efforts in accessibility and innovation.
In addition to knowledge sharing, the Latvian team toured KBR’s Coins and Medals department and visited the Google Books digitisation team, gaining insights into both heritage preservation and mass digitisation workflows. The visit also included discussions on research data management and AI-related projects, offering mutual inspiration for future collaborations.
Proposals for Development Following the Study Visit
- Strengthening cultural partnerships with the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Republic of Moldova, St. Cyril and Methodius National Library of Bulgaria, State Cultural Institute under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Bulgarian Library and Information Association (BBIA), and other institutions for the implementation of joint actions/projects, exchange of exhibitions, creation of digital libraries, provision of modern library services, and organization of further study visits.
- Enhancing the international exchange of publications to improve existing library collections.
- Transmitting the “National Calendar”, published by the National Library of the Republic of Moldova, and the socio-cultural magazine “Moldova” to the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Bulgaria, via the Diplomatic Institute under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova.
Quotes
“There is symbolism in today’s opening, because 34 years ago the Parliament of Moldova decided to sign a Declaration of independence of the state, and today we are opening the 34th corner within the National Library [of Bulgaria… We have strengthened our cooperation by signing this Memorandum of Cooperation, in which the main emphasis is on cultural exchange, exchange of experience, sharing of resources and a host of additional activities, if desired by both libraries,” said Assoc Prof Dr Kalina Ivanova, Director of the National Library “Saints Cyril and Methodius”.
