With the proclamation of Sofia as capital of the new independent Bulgaria in 1879 starts the collection of literature in city organization, economy, book keeping, dictionaries, reference books etc in support of the municipality's activities.
The first catalogue of the municipality's book collection was made in 1898. In 1908 for the first time in the municipality's staff is mentioned the position of a librarian. In 1928 Bulgaria celebrates 50 years since its liberation from Turkish rule and 1000 years Golden Age of Bulgarian Literature. On this occasion Sofia Municipality decides to establish a Municipal Museum, Library and Archive.
In 1941 Sofia Municipality buys a new building for the Museum and Library.
On 30.03.1944 the library suffers great losses by Allied bombing – the building on Banski Sq is destroyed.
In 1945 the Library opens in a private building requisitioned by the state.
Since 1968 Sofia City Library is in the former municipality building on Gurko str. In 1987 this building was closed for renovation and never opened again.
Since 1978 the Sofia City Library is legal deposit library which status was renewed in the new Legal Deposit Law.
In 1990 during the Round Table Talks after the collapse of communism Mr Michail Nedelchev proposed the building of the former City Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party on 4 Slaveykov Sq to be given to the City Library. The new library building was inaugurated on 15.10.1990.
On 27.07.2000 Sofia Municipality transformed the City Library in Municipal Culture Institute Sofia City Library. The City Library is also Regional Library for Sofia Region by ministerial decree # 153 from 28.07.2000.
In 2003 Sofia City Library celebrates it's 75-th anniversary as a multifunctional culture and information center with good ties to foreign and domestic libraries and culture and information institutions.
