A Brief History of the Belgian Bibliography
The Belgian Bibliography is a comprehensive record of all works published in Belgium or written by Belgian authors. Whether comics, non-fiction books, children’s books, or novels, these works are sent to the Royal Library under the legal deposit system. There, they are catalogued, categorized, and included in the bibliography’s monthly lists. These lists offer a detailed overview of Belgian literary production, benefiting researchers, librarians, publishers, and anyone interested in exploring the breadth of Belgium’s publishing landscape.

The origins of the Belgian Bibliography date back to 1869, when a Brussels publisher initiated efforts to create a national bibliography. After six years of negotiations, the first issue was published in 1875. Since then, the bibliography has undergone significant changes, being managed by various publishers and library subdivisions. Occasionally, it also included bibliographic records for maps, plans, and music. With the 1966 implementation of the legal deposit law, the bibliography became a complete record of all Belgian publications. In 1998, the most significant development occurred with the decision to publish an online version.
Today, the Bibliography is issued as a monthly PDF and can be accessed via the Royal Library’s catalog.
Improved accessibility through digitization and enhanced bibliographic records
To celebrate this anniversary, the printed publications of the bibliography are being digitized to provide easier access to the complete collection. This initiative ensures that everyone can explore the entire Belgian Bibliography, either via current online publications or digitized issues available on BelgicaPeriodicals.

In addition, the library is enhancing its services by improving the data created and made accessible through the bibliography. Efforts are underway to align the records with the IFLA Library Reference Model (IFLA-LRM), preparing the data for future transformation into Linked Open Data. This will enable connections with other data sources, creating an interconnected information network that facilitates data access, integration, and queries across various platforms. The library is also working on customizable data export options.
A pop-up exhibition celebrating the 150th anniversary
In order to put a spotlight on the bibliography during this time, there will be a pop-up exhibition in the reading room from 17 January to 28 March, where people can discover the evolution and the contents of the bibliography.
It is also possible to enter the reading room without a library card for this purpose.


