An Interactive space reflecting national trends in library and information services
The Library of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute organises a range of initiatives aimed at both members of the Diplomatic Service and young people and students. Housing Bulgaria’s richest specialised collection on diplomacy, the Library has established itself as an interactive space that reflects current national trends in library and information services.
In 2013, the Library launched a new tradition of showcasing historical and contemporary books from its collection in a dedicated online album promoted through the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute’s Facebook page.
Our social media followers were invited to share titles they had read from the collection, along with their impressions and recommendations. The initiative created a bridge between the Library’s rich historical heritage and its contemporary readership.
In 2015, the Library joined the “Reading Marathon” initiative of the Bulgarian Library and Information Association. On 24 April, a literary reading entitled “Share Your Favourite Book” was organised, encouraging the exchange of ideas and recommendations among Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff and guests.
In 2016, marking the first day of the school year on 15 September, the Library launched the “Library on Wheels” initiative. Representatives of the Institute visited offices across the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a selection of new titles from the Library’s collection.
Staff members could choose a book directly at their workplace, providing a modern, accessible, and engaging way to promote reading and showcase newly acquired Bulgarian and international publications.
In 2021, a dedicated video about the Library was produced and promoted, presenting it as a “treasure trove for those fascinated by diplomacy.” The video explores the Library’s history and functions, highlights its importance for the training of future diplomats, and showcases the features that make it unique on a national level.
To mark World Book Day on 23 April, the Library organised a one-day initiative to promote its collection among Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff. A selection of titles — including memoirs, fiction by diplomats, journalists and historians, as well as specialised publications — was made available for borrowing, encouraging reading and the exchange of recommendations among readers.
In 2024, a specially equipped hall for rare and valuable publications, entitled “20 Years of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute”, was opened. The project was launched in 2022 and aimed to create a formal, representative space to display unique publications from the Library’s collection.
In 2025, to mark the Day of the Bulgarian Alphabet, Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture, the Library organised a pop-up exhibition entitled “In the Footsteps of the Written Word”. The exhibition was held in the new “20 Years of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute” hall for rare publications. It featured thematic collections related to Bulgarian writing and literacy, Bulgarian communities abroad, and Bulgarian diplomacy.
Follow us for upcoming Library events and initiatives
