“United in Diversity”, № BGCULTURE-3.001-0044-C01, is a project that encourages a Bulgarian-Icelandic partnership between the National Library of Bulgaria and the Vigdís International Center for Multilingual and Intercultural Understanding at the University of Iceland. The joint efforts of the project participants aim to stimulate a dialogue between minority communities in Bulgaria. This project is financed with funds from the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2014–2021 under Programme PA14, “Cultural entrepreneurship, heritage, and cooperation,” Result 3, “Improved awareness of arts and culture of ethnic and cultural minorities (focus on Roma)”.
The “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” National Library serves as a custodian not only of Bulgaria’s indigenous documentary legacy but also of literary works from ethnic and cultural minority groups in the country. Through the “United in Diversity” project, the Library envisaged the publication and dissemination of three thematic books, which aim to highlight and advocate the contributions and literary heritage of the Roma, Armenian, and Jewish ethnic groups.
The first publication, “Who’s Who in the Armenian Community in Bulgaria: People in Culture, Art, and Science”, authored by Prof. Garo Mardirosyan, Vartanush Topakbashyan, and Vartanush Zadikyan, was launched on December 15th 2023. This reference book highlights the contributions of the Armenian community in Bulgaria across various domains such as science, culture, art, sports, medicine, and public life. Featuring biographical information on 288 individuals, active in the cultural and public spheres within the Armenian community, the book also commemorates the centennial anniversary of Armenians seeking refuge in Bulgaria from persecution in Ottoman Turkey (1920-1923).
The e-version of the book is available on the National Library’s website at:
https://www.nationallibrary.bg/www/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Spravochnik.pdf
To advance the visibility of minority cultures and outline the Library’s role as a custodian of their cultural and literary heritage, a thematic bibliographic index titled “Publications from the Collection of the National Library “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” for the Armenian, Jewish, and Romani Ethnic Groups” was published and presented on February 28th 2024. Authored by Assoc. Prof. Krasimira Aleksandrova, PhD, Vanya Avramova, PhD, and Galena Gerova, the book encompasses publications from the National Library’s repository pertaining to the aforementioned ethnic groups and addresses a notable gap in the literature. Regardless of the public interest in the struggle of different ethnic groups in Bulgaria over the years, as well as the numerous publications about them, so far no bibliographic study of independent publications stored in the National Library collection related to the Armenian, Jewish and Roma ethnic groups has been published. The bibliographic index features a diverse range of publications reflecting the thematic richness inherent to its subject matter. Spanning the period from 1822 to 2023, it comprises 2,459 bibliographic entries meticulously curated by the compilers. An indexed system accompanies the thematic bibliographic collection, facilitating non-linear access and swift retrieval of information. It features an alphabetical arrangement of names in both Cyrillic and Latin scripts, acknowledging both primary and secondary contributors to the publications. Given the substantial volume of materials available, the team adopted a rigorous selection process, focusing exclusively on independent publications catalogued in both traditional and electronic formats, including those documented in the COBISS system (https://bg.cobiss.net) and descriptions from subject catalogues featuring publications in Cyrillic and Latin scripts.
The first segment compiles publications concerning Armenian ethnicity authored by Bulgarian and international scholars, spanning from 1827 to 2022. These encompass diverse materials such as reports, regulations, and statutes from Armenian organizations, providing valuable insights into the subject.
The second section catalogues independent publications, both in Bulgarian and foreign languages, pertaining to Jewish ethnicity from 1822 to 2023. Encompassing various disciplines like history, culture, and literature, these materials include statutes, reports, and literary works, offering a comprehensive view of Jewish identity.
The third section encompasses publications, from 1855 to 2023, discussing the Roma ethnic group in Bulgarian and foreign languages. These texts cover fields such as history, culture, and politics, and include books, research projects, and dictionaries, providing a nuanced understanding of Roma ethnicity.
Serving as a robust foundation for future research, the bibliographic index offers a reliable resource for expanding and updating bibliographic and factual data. It stands as a valuable tool for students, doctoral candidates, ethnologists, and historians focusing on any of the included communities in Bulgaria, facilitating their inquiries and stimulating the generation of novel ideas.
The e-version of the book is available on the National Library’s website at:
https://www.nationallibrary.bg/www/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Ukazatel-2024.pdf
The forthcoming publication within the “United in Diversity” project is authored by Sophia Zahova, PhD, who works at the Vigdís International Center for Multilingual and Intercultural Understanding at the University of Iceland. The edition stems from an article titled “Roma Literature and its Digital Manifestations”, originally published in the Romani Studies Journal. The content delves into the evolution of Romani literature across four distinct periods globally, examining both national and transnational trends. Additionally, the book offers insights into prominent Romani authors in various countries and explores the diverse array of literary genres within Romani literature. The e-version of the book will be available on the website of the National Library of Bulgaria. The author will present the book at the end of March 2024, during the event “Ethnocafé” at the National Library of Bulgaria.