National and University Library "Sv. Kliment Ohridski"

What National and University Library "Sv. Kliment Ohridski" does

The National and University Library "Sv. Kliment Ohridski" (NUB) in Skopje is the central national library of the Republic of North Macedonia and simultaneously serves as the university library for the University of St. Cyril and Methodius. Founded on November 23, 1944, it inherited an initial collection of approximately 150,000 units and grew into an institution holding over 1.1 million titles and 3 million library units across more than 50 world languages, including 11 protected collections of movable cultural heritage. The current operating footprint is the original purpose-built building from 1972 (over 10,000 m2) plus a 2009 extension adding approximately 3,000 m2, located on Blvd. Goce Delcev no. 6 in Skopje.

NUB operates the COBISS.MK national library information system under an agreement with IZUM (Maribor, Slovenia), coordinating mutual cataloguing across Macedonian libraries and connecting to the COBISS.NET regional network serving approximately 1,500 libraries in eight countries. Its core products and services include the electronic catalog (over 410,000 records), the Virtual Library of Macedonia platform, inter-library loan services, professional training for librarians, specialized services for visually impaired persons, and a Conservation and Digitization Center. As the legally designated national agency, NUB also issues ISBN, ISSN, and ISMN identifiers, provides CIP cataloguing-in-publication records at 600 MKD per monograph, and receives mandatory legal deposit copies of all Macedonian publications.

The institution's revenue mechanics blend government appropriations (primary, via the Ministry of Culture), regulated service fees (CIP records, membership cards for 1-day to 1-year durations), and statutory agency functions (ISBN/ISSN/ISMN assignment bundled with publisher registration). Its customer base spans individual citizens, Macedonian publishers, all categories of domestic libraries, the primary partner university, and international library peers. The institution does not generate commercial profits; it operates as a government state entity under North Macedonian cultural legislation, with leadership under Director Jovica Nikchevski (appointed 2024).

Name

National and University Library "Sv. Kliment Ohridski"

Legal name

Национална и универзитетска библиотека „Св. Климент Охридски" - Скопје

Website

https://nubsk.edu.mk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National and University Library "Sv. Kliment Ohridski" is the central national library of North Macedonia, serving as legal deposit depository, university library, and coordinator of the COBISS.MK national library information system connecting ~1,500 libraries across the Balkans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

National Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Academic & Research Library Operations (College/University Libraries) (EDAEAGAB), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE)

Keywords

• National library services
• Bibliographic cataloguing services
• Publisher identification services
• Library information systems
• Cultural heritage preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Skopje

HQ country

North Macedonia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Mandatory Legal Deposit: As the national depository library, the library receives mandatory copies of all publications printed or reproduced in or from North Macedonia, providing the foundation of its collection.
2. CIP Records and ISBN/ISSN/ISMN Services: Fees for cataloguing-in-publication (CIP) records - 600 MKD per monograph. ISSN and ISBN agency services for Macedonian publishers. These are statutory services regulated by law.
3. User Membership and Service Fees: Fees for library membership cards (valid for one day, one week, one month, or one year). Charges for thematic research services for non-members. Fees for inter-library loans. Special free membership for persons with disabilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The National and University Library "Sv. Kliment Ohridski" operates as North Macedonia's national depository library and university library, providing bibliographic and cataloguing services, ISBN/ISSN/ISMN standard number assignments, CIP (Cataloguing in Publication) records, an electronic catalog with over 410,000 records, and coordination of the national COBISS.MK library information system. It serves individual citizens through membership-based lending, reading room access, and reference services, while also supporting publishers, other libraries, and visually impaired persons with specialized services including interlibrary loans and Braille materials.

Product overview

National and University Library 'Sv. Kliment Ohridski' offers a unified library service platform centered on the COBISS.MK library information system. The core offerings include the E-Catalog with over 410,000 bibliographic records, the Virtual Library of Macedonia linking all library types nationwide, and specialized services for publishers (CIP cataloguing, ISBN/ISSN/ISMN agencies). Supporting services include interlibrary loan, professional training for librarians, and a dedicated center for blind and partially sighted users. The library maintains special collections and provides access to both physical and digital library materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• E-Catalog (Електронски каталог)
• COBISS.MK Library Information System
• Virtual Library of Macedonia (Виртуелна библиотека на Македонија)
• CIP Cataloguing in Publication Service
• ISBN Agency
• ISSN Centre
• ISMN Agency
• Interlibrary Loan Service
• Centre for Blind and Partially Sighted Persons
• Professional Training for Librarians

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 410,000 electronic catalog records maintained in COBISS system
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• TAIEX (Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Instrument) - European CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 November 2024Expert mission funded by the TAIEX instrument of the European Commission, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of RN Macedonia. French National Library experts (Isabelle Bonard and Tamara Kuval) participated, along with representatives from the State Archives (DARM) and Museum of Contemporary Art (MSU). Focus on organizational structure, digitization center, and protection of library collections.
• Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in SkopjeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2024Support for the first Green Libraries Workshop held at NUL Conference Center from November 5-7. Speaker Professor Petra Hauke. Also discussed future projects and possible cooperation with German libraries.
• German National Library (Deutsche Nationalbibliothek) - LeipzigmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Working visit by NUL delegation led by Director Jovica Nikchevski and Sector Head Zorica Jakovleska Spirvska. Meeting with Frank Schulze (Director General) and Johannes Noer (Director of National Library in Leipzig/Saxony). Discussion on international library cooperation, exchange of experiences, and good practices. Supported by Ambassador Ilber Sela of North Macedonia in Germany.
• National Library of Bulgaria "St. St. Cyril and Methodius"majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Bilateral working meeting with 15-member delegation from NUL. Exhibition "Promotion of Cultural Heritage in an Innovative Way" presented. Director Prof. Dr. Krasimira Aleksandrova led the Bulgarian delegation. Also involved Bulgarian Cultural-Information Center in Skopje and Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria.
• State Archives of RN Macedonia (DARM)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in TAIEX expert mission, along with the Museum of Contemporary Art (MSU), to exchange experiences in preservation and cultural heritage protection.
• Museum of Contemporary Art (MSU) - SkopjemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in TAIEX expert mission for exchange of experiences in preservation and cultural heritage protection.
• UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Representatives from UNESCO participated in the First International Conference for Cultural Heritage Protection organized by the National Library of Macedonia.
• IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Representatives from IFLA participated in the First International Conference for Cultural Heritage Protection organized by the National Library of Macedonia. NUL is also engaged in IFLA's green libraries initiative.
• IZUM (Institute of Information Sciences) - Maribor, SloveniacoreTechnology or Integration · 3 December 2004Partnership for implementation and coordination of COBISS (Cooperative Online Bibliographic System and Services) library information system. On December 3, 2004, NUL signed the Agreement with IZUM for COBISS implementation in North Macedonia, establishing the Virtual Library of Macedonia Center (VBM Center) as the national library information service.
• COBISS.NET Partner Libraries (Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Bulgaria)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2003Network of autonomous national library information systems connected through COBISS.NET, enabling free flow and exchange of bibliographic data. Includes COBISS.SI (Slovenia), COBISS.SR (Serbia), COBISS.BH (Bosnia), COBISS.RS (Republika Srpska), COBISS.CG (Montenegro), COBISS.BG (Bulgaria), COBISS.AL (Albania), COBISS.KS (Kosovo). Nearly 1,500 libraries use COBISS software regionally.
• University Library "St. Kliment Ohridski" - BitolacoreTechnology or IntegrationOne of the two depository libraries receiving mandatory copies (along with University Library "Goce Delcev" - Stip). Receives 1 copy of each publication for archival preservation.
• University Library "Goce Delcev" - StipcoreTechnology or IntegrationOne of the two depository libraries receiving mandatory copies (along with University Library "St. Kliment Ohridski" - Bitola). Receives 1 copy of each publication for archival preservation.
• NU Kinoteka na Makedonija (Cinematheque of Macedonia)coreTechnology or IntegrationReceives mandatory copy of image and sound carriers (film copies, video tapes, etc.) as the designated national institution for audiovisual materials.
• NU Muzej na Makedonija (Museum of Macedonia)coreTechnology or IntegrationReceives 3 copies of new editions of state money (banknotes and coins) as mandatory copy.
• Blue Shield InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresentatives from Blue Shield participated in the First International Conference for Cultural Heritage Protection organized by the National Library of Macedonia.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Deutsche Nationalbibliothek (German National Library): Broader incumbent — Germany's national bibliographic authority, an active NUL partner (2024 working visit) and a globally significant model for national ISBN/ISSN agency operations and digital deposit frameworks.
• Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF): Broader incumbent — France's national library, recently engaged with NUL through the EU TAIEX expert mission (2024) on digitization and collection protection. Provides a peer benchmark for national-library modernization.

Direct peers

• National and University Library of Slovenia (NUK): Closest operational peer — Slovenia's national and university library, also a COBISS member, with shared bibliographic standards, similar dual national/university mandate, and direct collaboration through IZUM and COBISS.NET.
• National Library of Kosovo: Regional direct peer — Kosovo's national library and a COBISS.NET participant (COBISS.KS), providing the closest geographic and operational parallel for a small-state national library in the region.
• National Library of Bulgaria "St. St. Cyril and Methodius": Direct peer — Bulgaria's national library, sharing Slavic heritage, a recent bilateral working meeting with NUL (2024), and overlapping mandates in national bibliographic control, CIP/ISBN/ISSN services, and Slavic manuscript preservation. Most comparable institutionally.
• National Library of Serbia: Regional peer — Serbia's national library and fellow COBISS.NET participant, sharing mandate, regional cooperation framework, and overlapping Slavic-language bibliographic responsibilities.
• National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Regional direct peer — another COBISS.NET member with a comparable national + university mandate in a small Balkan state, sharing similar scale, digitization challenges, and post-Yugoslav institutional context.
• Croatian National and University Library: Regional direct peer — Croatia's national and university library with a near-identical mandate structure (national deposit, university services, ISBN agency), and similar Balkan/South-East European positioning.

Others

• IZUM (Institute of Information Sciences, Maribor): Enabling technology partner — developer and operator of the COBISS platform on which NUL's national library information system runs. Closest peer in terms of mission-critical infrastructure rather than direct competition.
• IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions): Adjacent ecosystem organization — global professional body in which NUL participates and through which it engages on standards, training, and initiatives like Green Libraries. Relevant as institutional peer for benchmarking and partnership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nubsk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/nubsk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-and-university-library-sv.-kliment-ohridski-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National and University Library "Sv. Kliment Ohridski"