Specialized scientific library and scientific archive

The library occupies a central place in the structure of the museum and in the scholarly activities of its staff. It serves as the foundation for the overall research, collecting, and outreach work of the museum curators.

The library collects and preserves publications in the fields of archaeology, history, ethnology, numismatics, as well as studies related to Kyustendil and the surrounding region. It holds more than 15,000 volumes of specialized literature and is also the proud owner of the personal library of Corresponding Member Yordan Zahariyev, which comprises 1,330 items.

A particularly rich part of the collection consists of periodicals and reference materials. The “Periodicals” collection includes newspapers, journals, bulletins, and annual publications from institutes and museums in Bulgaria and abroad.

The scientific archive contains valuable manuscripts, documents, photographs, and works produced as a result of research, collection management, exhibition activities, cultural and educational initiatives, and overall museum work. At present, the archive fund includes around 600 archival units with information on historical events and documentation of sites (immovable cultural heritage monuments) related to Kyustendil and the region. It also holds personal archival collections of local history researchers.