1878, 04.04. - The Sofia schoolteacher and first secretary of the City Council Michael Bobotinov makes a proposal for the establishment of a public library, needed for fostering of culture and education in Sofia.

1878, 28.11. - Provisional Library Commission is chosen to take upon itself organization and opening of the library in accordance with its existing statute. This date (new style 10 December 1878) is accepted as the foundation of the National Library.

1879, 05.06. - Sofia Public Library is transformed in a state institution, called Bulgarian National Library; Marin Drinov, chairman of the Library Commission and head of the Department Education made the proposal.

1897, 22.02. - Konstantin Velichkov’s Law of deposit of printed documents in the National Libraries was adopted.

1900 - The National Library of Bulgaria received its first own building, former Citizen’s Club on 131, G.S. Rakovski Str.

1924 - National Library opened Archive Department based upon the Bulgarian National Revival Archive, founded 1904.

1939 - Began the construction of a new Library building (the place is the former royal riding-school).

1944 - The air raids over Sofia during the World War II destroyed both the old and new building.

1946, 26.04. - The Law on the contract of a loan for the rebuilding of the National Library in Sofia was published on 26 April in Darjaven Vestnik.

1953, 16.12. - The new building of the National Library was officially opened on December 16. The prominent Bulgarian architects Ivan Vasiliov and Dimitar Tzolov design it. The Library was built in neoclassical style and the monument of the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius is inseparable part of it.