НАЦИОНАЛНА БИБЛИОТЕКА „СВ. СВ. КИРИЛ И МЕТОДИЙ“

ST. ST. CYRIL AND METHODIUS NATIONAL LIBRARY OF BULGARIA

Books as Bridges:

Fostering Cultural Diplomacy through Book and Educational Corners at the National Library of Bulgaria “St. St. Cyril and Methodius”

Maria Stefanova

PR National Library of Bulgaria

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International Conference “Heritage Preservation for a Sustainable Future”

Yerevan, October 2026

НАЦИОНАЛНА БИБЛИОТЕКА „СВ. СВ. КИРИЛ И МЕТОДИЙ“

ST. ST. CYRIL AND METHODIUS NATIONAL LIBRARY OF BULGARIA

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BOOK&EDUCATIONAL CORNERS

НАЦИОНАЛНА БИБЛИОТЕКА „СВ. СВ. КИРИЛ И МЕТОДИЙ“

ST. ST. CYRIL AND METHODIUS NATIONAL LIBRARY OF BULGARIA

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FROM BOOKSHELVES TO BRIDGES: the START

Slovenian corner

the First One

2021

Slovenian corner renewed in 2025

Corner of Nigeria 2021

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Renovated Corner of Nigeria 2023 and signing of MoU in Sofia

НАЦИОНАЛНА БИБЛИОТЕКА „СВ. СВ. КИРИЛ И МЕТОДИЙ“

ST. ST. CYRIL AND METHODIUS NATIONAL LIBRARY OF BULGARIA

Paschal Donohoe, Ireland’s Minister for Public Expenditure& Opening of the Australian corner on 26 January 2024

President of the Eurogroup, 18 March 2024 The National Day of Australia

FROM INDIVIDUAL CORNERS TO AN INSTITUTIONAL MODEL

Aus

t

ra

l

I

an

Corner

Irish

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Corner

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НАЦИОНАЛНА БИБЛИОТЕКА „СВ. СВ. КИРИЛ И МЕТОДИЙ“

ST. ST. CYRIL AND METHODIUS NATIONAL LIBRARY OF BULGARIA

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ARMENIAN CORNER opened 14, December 2022

НАЦИОНАЛНА БИБЛИОТЕКА „СВ. СВ. КИРИЛ И МЕТОДИЙ“

ST. ST. CYRIL AND METHODIUS NATIONAL LIBRARY OF BULGARIA

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The development of the Book and Educational Corners reveals

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• distinctive model of cultural cooperation
• interaction
• Participants: NL of Bulgaria, other NLs, diplomatic corps

CULTURAL DIPLOMACY IN ACTION

НАЦИОНАЛНА БИБЛИОТЕКА „СВ. СВ. КИРИЛ И МЕТОДИЙ“

ST. ST. CYRIL AND METHODIUS NATIONAL LIBRARY OF BULGARIA

The Book and Educational Corners demonstrate a new special diplomacy that operates through access

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• More than 4,000 donated volumes
• Registered with the catalogue
• Accessible for readers

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45 CORNERS: A NETWORK FOR ACCESS TO WORLD CULTURAL HERITAGE

НАЦИОНАЛНА БИБЛИОТЕКА „СВ. СВ. КИРИЛ И МЕТОДИЙ“

ST. ST. CYRIL AND METHODIUS NATIONAL LIBRARY OF BULGARIA

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The Geographical

Development

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• Africa
• Americas
• Asia
• Australia
• Europe

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A GLOBAL VISION FOR 2028: FROM FIVE CONTINENTS TO THE SIXTH

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Next Steps

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• A Corner at the Bulgarian Antarctic Base
• In honor of the founders of the National Library of Bulgaria and our 150^th anniversary, in 2028
• The Corner in Antarctica would extend the library’s mission into an environment where knowledge, scientific cooperation and international presence are central to the humanity.

This step would embody a simple principle: access to knowledge and cultural dialogue should have no geographical limits

НАЦИОНАЛНА БИБЛИОТЕКА „СВ. СВ. КИРИЛ И МЕТОДИЙ“

ST. ST. CYRIL AND METHODIUS NATIONAL LIBRARY OF BULGARIA

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The

Bulgarian

Antarctic

Base

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FROM FIVE CONTINENTS TO THE SIXTH

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The National Library of Bulgaria had the courage to experiment. We started with nothing more than a list. As a result, a library initiative evolved into a meaningful instrument of cultural diplomacy.

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As Umberto Eco observed,

“The list is the origin of culture.”

This concept is reflected in the 45 Corners — a living network of cultural bridges connecting libraries around the globe and contributing to our shared memory of the world.

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WHEN BOOKS BECOME BRIDGES

НАЦИОНАЛНА БИБЛИОТЕКА „СВ. СВ. КИРИЛ И МЕТОДИЙ“

ST. ST. CYRIL AND METHODIUS NATIONAL LIBRARY OF BULGARIA

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The “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” National Library of Bulgaria can share “the list”.

Just visit us in the wisdom city of Sofia!

Thank you!

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Maria Stefanova

PR National Library of Bulgaria

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nationallibrary.pr@gmail.com