site.btaSofia City Library’s Literary Club Celebrates 10 Years of Bringing People Together through Words

The Sofia City Library’s Literary Club marked its 10th anniversary with a celebration Thursday that brought together writers, poets, publishers, and friends of the institution, reaffirming its role as one of the city’s key cultural spaces.

"Ten years later, the Literary Club of the Sofia City Library continues to be a place where words bring people together," said poet and moderator of the event Petar Chuhov as he opened the event.

The celebration took place at the Sofia City Library and featured a wide range of guests from Bulgaria’s literary and public life. Among those attending were former Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov (1997–2002), the Deputy Chair of the Sofia Municipal Council, Vanya Tagareva, Biliana Genova from Sofia’s Directorate of Culture, the library’s director Yulia Tzintzova, New Bulgarian University Rector Plamen Doinov, Prof. Mihail Nedelchev, and writers Zahari Karabashliev and Kalin Terziyski.

The Deputy Chair of the Sofia Municipal Council Tagareva announced an upcoming initiative to renovate the library’s building. “This is an institution we are deeply proud of — one that inspires us and stands as a symbol of our city,” she said.

On behalf of Sofia’s Deputy Mayor for Culture, Education, Sports, and Youth, Biliana Genova congratulated the library team: “I want to thank the entire staff for their many initiatives that enrich Sofia’s literary life.”

Writer Zahari Karabashliev spoke about the potential for closer collaboration between poetry and music in future events and expressed gratitude for being part of the anniversary celebration.

One of the club’s founders, writer Kalin Terziyski, reflected on the passage of time: “Ten years sounds majestic, impressive, and somehow a bit frightening because time flies. We are a compact writing group — from people in their thirties to their seventies — forming a creative core.”

The festive evening continued with poetry readings from participants in the club’s Poet of the Month series, one of its most beloved traditions. The event was also part of the Sofia City Library’s 97th anniversary celebrations, which will culminate on October 24.

Founded in 2015 on the initiative of library director Yulia Tzintzova and writers including Kalin Terziyski, Zahari Karabashliev, Milen Ruskov, Ivo Milev, and Teodora Toteva, the Literary Club began under the name Blessed Thursday. Initially held twice a month, the meetings quickly grew in number and scope, leading to the establishment of the Literary Club as a central gathering place for Sofia’s creative community.