THE LOCAL HERITAGE COLLECTION AS A MEDIUM OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

THE CASE OF THE “HRISTO BOTEV” PUBLIC LIBRARY IN BOSILEGRAD

Abstract

This paper analyses the role o the local heritage collection of the “Hristo Botev” Public Library in Bosilegrad as a medium of intercultural communication within the context of Serbian-Bulgarian-Macedonian cultural relations. Grounded in the assumption that local heritage collections transcend local and administrative boundaries, the research examines how this collection
connects diverse cultural spaces through shared heritage. Te study aims to determine how traditional and modern communication channels - primarily digitisation, the Internet, and social networks - contribute to the preservation, revitalisation, and accessibility of local heritage materials. Te methodological framework incorporates communicological and semiotic analyses, a case study approach, and elements of comparative analysis. Te results indicate that the local heritage collection functions as a distinct communication system that facilitates the transmission of cultural meanings across different national and linguistic communities. Furthermore, digitization and the utilisation of modern communication platforms signifcantly enhance the accessibility of these materials, expand the user base, and position the library as a regional hub for cultural dialogue and digital heritage. Ultimately, this paper contributes to the
theoretical understanding of local heritage collections as mediums of intercultural communication, highlighting their role in the contemporary library and information environment.