Bibliotheca Nordica

Bibliotheca Nordica was officially opened on November 19, 1998 by the Rector of Sofia University Prof. Dr. Ivan Lalov and the Ambassadors of the Kingdom of Sweden and the Kingdom of Denmark in Sofia. The idea for the establishment of the library was realized with the efforts of Prof. Vera Gancheva, Prof. Boris Parashkevov, the management of the St. Kliment Ohridski University Library and others. The embassies of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Iceland provided financial support.

The fund of Bibliotheca Nordica is enriched through purchase, book exchange and donations by institutions and individuals from all Scandinavian countries and from Bulgaria. Most books bear the autograph of the author, translator, publisher, or donor. The collection specializes in the field of history, culture, science, mythology, fiction, and linguistics of the Nordics.

In accordance with its field of specialisation, Bibliotheca Nordica stores encyclopaedias and reference editions, dictionaries and teaching materials, literary and linguistic monographs, fiction. As Bibliotheca Nordica is a branch of the St. Kliment Ohridski University Library, the bibliographical descriptions of the resources in its fund are included in the electronic catalogue of the University Library.

At the beginning of the academic year 2020-2021, the library fund comprises over 8,200 volumes of books and 32 periodicals. In addition to works by Scandinavian classic writers such as Knut Hamsun, Henrik Ibsen, August Strindberg, Astrid Lindgren, Selma Lagerlöf, Karen Blixen and many others, Bibliotheca Nordica also houses works by contemporary fiction writers. Among the most read are Erlend Loe, Mikael Niemi, Jostein Gaarder, Stig Larsson and others. Their translations into Bulgarian are the result of the work of prominent Bulgarian translators, many of whom have graduated the Scandinavian Studies programme and/ or are among the teaching staff of the Department.

Bibliotheca Nordica also houses the book collection of the Hans Christian Andersen Center for Research and Information. This specialised collection of 1,500 titles includes not only original works by Andersen, but also their translations into English, German, French, Russian, Italian and many other languages. The rich information is supplemented by biographical studies dedicated to Andersen, as well as monographs on his work.

There is a selection of scientific collections and literary journals, in which articles and translations of lecturers at the Scandinavian Studies Section are published: “Yearbook of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski”, Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology” („Годишник на Софийския университет „Св. Климент Охридски“, Факултет по класически и нови филологии”), “Panorama” Magzine (сп. „Панорама”), “Savremennik” Magazine (сп. „Съвременник“) and others.

The library stores bachelor’s and МА degree theses of students graduating in Scandinavian Studies, as well as the dissertations of teachers at the programme.

Each visitor can use the library resources in the reading room, and teachers and students at the Scandinavian Studies Sections can borrow them for one month with a valid library card.

Visiting address of Bibliotheca Nordica:

1043 Sofia, 15 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., Sofia University, 5th floor, Room 162

Telephone: (+359 2) 9308-406

E-mail: nordica@libsu.uni-sofia.bg

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8.30-12.00 / 13.00-17.30 and Wednesday 8.30-12.00 / 14.00-17.30. Rest breaks: 10:00-10.15 and 15:00-15.15.