Abstract:

The study presents a project aiming to create a methodology for digitalization and to digitize the retrospective bibliography (repertoire) of Bulgarian Revival books from the beginning of the 19th century until the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878. The fundamentality of the research is determined by the fact that the currently existing printed versions of the bibliographic array differ in structure, quantity and content which does not allow a fast and reliable analytic processing of the bibliographic information. The developing of a methodology, testing and elaboration of information retrieval system which contains bibliographic information about the Bulgarian books issued from the beginning of 19th century until the Liberation of Bulgaria (1878) will contribute considerably for the modernization and the accelerated development of many fields of the humanities and social sciences: general and cultural history, history of literature, book history, bibliography, library science. The new information retrieval system applies innovative methodology of the geographic information systems which visualizes bibliographic information and allows its utilization by means of topographic indexes. The elaboration of bibliographic database based on the principles of information retrieval systems and geographic information systems has a fundamental character for the development of the Bulgarian science and at the same time uses innovative methods, leading to sustained development of the scientific activities in the field of humanities and social sciences. The project team has taken into account the specifics of the Bulgarian book publishing during the 19th century (the books look much more like the European paleotypes from XVI century than like the book publishing patterns in Europe during the same period) and the achievements of the modern bibliographic resources.

Keywords:

Bulgaria, Revival books, retrospective bibliography, digitalization, information retrieval system, geographic information system.