Terms and Conditions

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using the Sofia City Library website and digital services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. These terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and the Sofia City Library. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, you must discontinue use of our services immediately.

The Sofia City Library reserves the right to modify these terms at any time without prior notice. Your continued use of our services after any modifications constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

2. User Obligations and Responsibilities

As a user of our digital library services, you agree to comply with the following obligations:

• Provide accurate and complete information when registering for library services
• Maintain the confidentiality of your account credentials and notify us immediately of any unauthorized access
• Use library resources solely for educational, research, and personal purposes
• Respect the intellectual property rights of authors, publishers, and content creators
• Refrain from attempting to circumvent digital rights management systems
• Not engage in any activity that could damage, disable, or impair our systems or networks
• Comply with all applicable local, national, and international laws and regulations

3. Service Limitations and Availability

Digital Resource Access

Access to digital resources is subject to licensing agreements with publishers and content providers. The availability of specific materials may vary and can be withdrawn without notice due to licensing restrictions or technical issues.

System Maintenance

We reserve the right to perform scheduled and emergency maintenance that may temporarily interrupt service availability. While we strive to minimize disruptions, we cannot guarantee uninterrupted access to our digital services.

Geographic Restrictions

Certain digital resources may be subject to geographic licensing restrictions and may only be accessible from within Bulgaria or specific regions as determined by content providers.

4. Intellectual Property Rights

All content available through the Sofia City Library's digital services, including but not limited to books, journals, databases, images, audio recordings, and software, is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. Users acknowledge that:

• Content is provided for personal, educational, and research use only
• Commercial use of library materials is strictly prohibited without explicit permission
• Systematic downloading or reproduction of content is not permitted
• Users may not redistribute, sell, or sublicense any library materials
• Fair use provisions apply in accordance with Bulgarian and international copyright law

The Sofia City Library respects intellectual property rights and expects users to do the same. Any suspected copyright infringement will be investigated and may result in account termination.

5. Privacy and Data Protection

We are committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with Bulgarian data protection laws and European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Personal information collected through our services is used solely for library administration, service improvement, and communication purposes.

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure.

6. Limitation of Liability

The Sofia City Library provides digital services on an "as is" and "as available" basis. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to:

• Warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose
• Accuracy, completeness, or reliability of content
• Uninterrupted or error-free service operation
• Security of data transmission or storage

In no event shall the Sofia City Library be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of our services, including but not limited to loss of data, loss of profits, or business interruption, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

7. User Conduct and Prohibited Activities

Users are prohibited from engaging in the following activities:

• Attempting to gain unauthorized access to library systems or user accounts
• Transmitting viruses, malware, or other harmful code
• Interfering with the proper functioning of library services
• Using automated systems to access or download content
• Sharing account credentials with unauthorized individuals
• Engaging in harassment or inappropriate behavior toward staff or other users

8. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of the Republic of Bulgaria. Any disputes arising from or relating to these terms or your use of library services shall be resolved through the following process:

Initial Resolution

We encourage users to first attempt to resolve any disputes through direct communication with library administration. Most issues can be resolved through good faith discussion and mutual understanding.

Formal Proceedings

If informal resolution is unsuccessful, any legal proceedings must be initiated in the competent courts of Sofia, Bulgaria. By using our services, you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of these courts.

Limitation Period

Any claims or disputes must be brought within one year of the date the cause of action arose, or such claims shall be permanently barred.

9. Termination of Services

The Sofia City Library reserves the right to suspend or terminate user access to digital services at any time for violation of these terms, misuse of resources, or other conduct deemed inappropriate. Upon termination, all rights granted to the user cease immediately, and the user must stop all use of library digital resources.