history
1954 – On December 24, the District Methodological Library was opened with a collection of 6,788 volumes and separate departments: “Methodical”, “Processing”, and “Circulation”.
1955 – It received the status of a depository library, sharing deposits with the National Army Library in Sofia.
1955 – First steps in interlibrary loan services.
1956 – The first summer reading room was organized.
1958 – A reference and bibliographic service was established.
1959 – The library was relocated to the building of the District Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party.
1961 – A children’s department was established.
1962 – Open access for readers was introduced.
1962 – First publications in the local newspaper “Otetchestven Zov” about library bibliographic editions.
1963 – The reference and general reading rooms were moved to two new premises.
1963 – A collection development and bibliographic advisory council was created with specialists from various fields.
1964 – A district library council on a voluntary basis was established as an advisory body.
1965 – By Order No. 464 of May 30 of the District National Council in Vratsa, the library was officially named “Hristo Botev”.
1965 – Coordination of local history (kraevedenie) activities began with libraries in Vidin and Mihaylovgrad.
1966 – The “Local History” department was established.
1968 – Acquisition of scientific-technical literature and foreign-language materials began.
1969 – Separate circulation logs were introduced for all departments.
1969 – Coordination of bibliographic and reference work among general education libraries in the district began.
1970 – The “Art” department was established.
1978 – On May 11, the first celebration of Librarian’s Day was organized.
1979 – A district bibliographic supply center was established for centralized book distribution.
1979 – The methodological department was transformed into a district “Libraries” directorate under the District Council for Culture.
1979 – The first plenary meeting on librarianship in the district was held.
1979 – The Children’s Department was moved to the newly built Palace of Culture.
1979 – By State Council Decree No. 1933, the library was awarded the Order “Cyril and Methodius”, 2nd degree, for its 25th anniversary.
1980 – A branch library was opened in the “Dabnika” residential complex.
1988 – The library received the new name “Universal Scientific Library”.
1993 – Reclassification of the collection in preparation for relocation to a new building.
1994 – The library was moved to the former House of Political Education and officially opened on November 1 (Day of the Enlighteners).
1995 – First project for an automated library information system.
1995 – First computer “Leo”, printer, and modules of the library system “Library” were acquired; creation of the first database began.
1996 – The “Periodicals” reading room was established.
1998 – A project funded by the Open Society Foundation established a local network and Internet access.
1999/2000 – Full inventory of the library collection.
2000 – Publication of “Kral Bair: Legends and Traditions from Vratsa” – first book in the “Homeland” series.
2000 – Establishment of the “Automation” department.
2000 – Local computer network connecting six departments was built.
2001 – Legal changes removed the library’s right to receive free legal deposit materials.
2002 – Library website created.
2002 – Publication of “Kaval li sviri, moma li pee…” – second book in the “Homeland” series.
2003 – First issue of the “Library Newspaper”.
2003 – Publication of “Oy, Koledo, moy Koledo…” – third book in the series.
2004 – First regional local history conference “History of the Homeland – a Message to the Future”.
2004 – 50th anniversary celebration; new equipment and library software installed.
2004 – Publication of “Wise Words” – fourth book in the series.
2004 – Opening of the “Stoyan Ts. Daskalov” exhibition.
2005 – Conversion to new library software and expansion of the network.
2005 – Computer lab with Internet access established.
2005 – Publication of volumes five and six of the series.
2005 – Second regional conference held.
2006 – New director appointed (Olga Kamenova).
2006 – Library recognized and restructured as a Regional Library.
2006 – Third regional conference held.
2006 – Publications of volumes seven and eight.
2006 – Three public access computer stations installed.
2007 – Ninth book in the series published.
2007 – Fourth regional conference held.
2007 – Academic conference “Botev’s Word Today”.
2008 – Tenth book in the series published.
2008 – “Friends of the Book” club established.
2008 – Several literary and historical competitions organized.
2009 – Sixth regional conference and 55th anniversary celebration.
2009 – Establishment of Regional Local History Society.
2010 – Participation in “Global Libraries – Bulgaria” program; new equipment and training center.
2010 – Conferences, exhibitions, and publications on cultural heritage.
2011–2015 – Continued publications, exhibitions, educational projects, digital initiatives, and regional conferences; expansion of digital library and community programs.
2017 – Creation of “Map of Time” digital archive website.
2018–2019 – National awards for library innovation and digital projects; opening of teen space; first literary festival.
2020 – Director Silviya Pavlova awarded “Librarian of the Year”.
2022 – Acquisition of electric mobile library bus.
2023 – Transition to the Koha web-based integrated library system.