The Austrian library “Elias Canetti” in Ruse opened its doors for the first time on the 20^th of May 2005 on the occasion of the 100-year anniversary of the Ruse-born laureate in literature Elias Canetti. The library was established upon the cultural agreement between Austria and Bulgaria and a treaty, signed between the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria, represented by the Ambassador of the Austrian Embassy in Sofia, the municipality and region of Ruse, Angel Kanchev University and the International Elias Canetti Society.

It is affiliated with the International Elias Canetti Society in terms of location and organisation and is electronically linked to the university library.

The library’s collection, which currently comprises approximately 6,075 volumes, is partially catalogued electronically in an online catalogue. The process of online cataloguing is ongoing.

The library’s holdings also include journals and approximately 424 other media items (CDs, DVDs, etc.). The collection also includes donations from the Robert Bosch Foundation and the Swiss Embassy in Sofia, as well as a Liechtenstein shelf. The basic collection has developed into a collection focusing on Austrian literature (including works by and about Elias Canetti), Austrian history, cultural studies, art and literary studies, European and world history, and European integration and Balkan studies. The library has works by Elias Canetti in 21 languages.

Since its inception, the library has served as an Austrian cultural centre offering cultural, educational and scientific activities for a wide audience. Thanks to the activities of the International Elias Canetti Society, the Austrian Library is an institution active in the fields of culture, education, information and civil society development. Writing workshops, seminars and discussion events are held here, and an annual literature festival is organised. The library is an important meeting place and provides space for events organised by partner organisations. It is used by students, doctoral candidates, scholarship holders, teachers and lecturers for academic research.

Austrian Library “Elias Canetti”