National Archives of Bulgaria
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(give a brief summary comment about holdings here)
Contents |
[edit] Orientation
[edit] Coordinates
[edit] Address
1000 Sofia,
5 Moskovska str.
[edit] Website
http://www.archives.government.bg/index.php?lang=en&page=10 The website is available in Bulgarian and English.
[edit] Telephone
(+359 2) 9400101
[edit] Fax
(+359 2) 980 14 43
[edit] Email
daa@archives.government.bg
[edit] Schedule & hours
(include information about annual closures)
[edit] Working language(s)
(what languages do you need, and what languages can you limp by on?) Bulgarian. You can limp by on Serbian.
[edit] Directions to the archive
[edit] Holdings
The Bulgarian National Archives has published several guidebooks useful in helping researchers identify relevant documents for their studies. Unfortunately, the website only contains a list of the publications and not online access to them.
[edit] Research procedures
[edit] Access
(what permits, identity documents, or letters of reference do you need to present? how far in advance must you begin to register?) Just a passport and a letter outlining your research project (in Bulgarian). You can register on arrival, but it's a good idea to send them a letter (can be via email) in advance, especially if you want them to prepare material for you to view so it's ready on your arrival. They generally won't do this unless the request is for a very specific collection and with a complete archival citation (including collection, op. and a.e. numbers).
[edit] Permitted and prohibited items
(if possible, account for laptop computers, cameras, scanners, phones, pens and pencils, loose papers, and so on)
- Permitted: laptops (though there are a limited number of outlets in the main reading room for plugging them in), pens and pencils, loose papers
- Prohibited: digital cameras except with permission and for an extremely exorbitant fee (1 lev per image as of summer '08)
[edit] Document ordering and delivery
(how do you request documents? how many can you order at a time? how are documents delivered?) They have a database with some detailed catalogue information on some collections on a computer in the main reading room. The other inventories are in a room across the hall and can be requested there. Once you know what you want to look at, you fill out a slip with all the information and give it to the archivist. I believe you can order something like 15 a.e.'s a day, but I don't recall exactly. In any case there is a limit, but it is not unreasonably low. Some of the documents are on microfilm and those arrive generally the same day and can be viewed on readers in a different reading room. If the material is available only in hard copy, it generally takes three days before it is available and then they bring it to the main reading room and keep it in a stack with your name on it. You can take from the stack and return material to it for as long as you need to.
[edit] Photocopying, photography, microfilming
(what are costs, permits, and page limits? how long do you have to wait?) You have to submit copy requests and they have three categories (something like normal, medium, and fast) with incrementally increasing prices. I believe the fastest turnaround is one day, otherwise it can take 3 or 4. Using a digital camera is extremely (read prohibitively) expensive at 1 lev per image (as of summer '08). Photocopies are not as expensive (I don't recall the exact prices) and they generally do a good job of organizing them and doing what you ask.
[edit] Key individuals
(give names of archive staff and other individuals who can help researchers)
[edit] Practicalities
(details on food, coffee, lockers, washrooms, transportation, internet access, and the like) There is a wonderful cafeteria on the top floor of the building with very inexpensive and tasty food for lunch and beverages (including beer) and snacks throughout the day. The view is excellent from up there and they have a balcony. Washrooms are generally without toilet paper so bring tissues.
[edit] See also
(links to relevant websites and resources)
