THE STORY OF OUR LIBRARY

The Romanian Heritage Center’s Library is a unique private collection of books and published works, magazines, newspapers, antique & vintage postage stamps, and items such as audio & VHS tapes, CDs, and rare classic vinyl records.

With a total of over 18,000 items, 90% of which are either in Romanian language or about Romania, Romanians, and Romanian culture, heritage, religion, and history, this is one of the largest collections of its kind in the Romanian diaspora.

THIS IS NOT A LIBRARY OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC

This private collection is maintained by the Romanian Heritage Center for on-site study and preservation purposes only. To preserve this unique collection, access is reserved for research and educational purposes and is available by prior arrangement only.

Because many of the materials are rare, culturally significant, and difficult to replace, all books, publications, recordings, and other items are non-circulating and may not be borrowed or removed from the Romanian Heritage Center. Visitors, scholars, and community members are welcome to consult the collection for research and educational purposes within the Center.

This privately owned Romanian Library is a truly exceptional collection of rare and valuable historical works, featuring Romanian books of remarkable significance, some dating as far back as 1860. Among its treasures is an original copy of the first edition of the Romanian Bible printed in the Latin alphabet, published in Iași in 1874, along with several other important volumes from the early 1900s.

The only other collection of comparable size and significance in the United States is located in New York and is owned and administered by the Government of Romania through its Cultural Institute.

SUPPORTED BY MEMBERS & BENEFACTORS

Supported by dedicated members and benefactors who share a commitment to preserving Romanian identity, culture, and heritage within the Romanian diaspora in the United States, the Romanian Heritage Center’s Library serves as both a guardian of history and a vibrant cultural space. Its distinctive ambiance offers an ideal setting for educational activities, seminars, networking meetings, special events, and even radio & television studio recordings.

OUR LIBRARY’S 42-YEAR HISTORY

October 1984, DETROIT, MICHIGAN – Shortly after arriving in the United States, Steven Bonica made his collection of Romanian books available, beginning in October 1984 – on his 19th birthday, to relatives, friends, and fellow Romanians who shared a sense of nostalgia and attended the same Protestant church in Detroit, Michigan.

He continued to expand the collection by sending money to Romania through friends and relatives traveling there, asking a former neighbor to purchase additional books and arrange for their shipment to the United States. Because of the regulations in place at the time, all shipments had to be sent in small parcels weighing no more than 5 kilograms (11 pounds) each, and every package was subject to inspection and approval by Romanian customs before it could be mailed abroad through the Romanian National Postal Service.

July 1985 – ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – The Bonica family moved from Michigan to California and established themselves in Orange County. There, Steven Bonica once again made his collection of Romanian books available to friends and fellow church members, while continuing to expand the collection through additional shipments of books from Romania.

January 1988 – CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – Six months after relocating to Chicago, and one month after marrying Simona Julia Oprea, the private collection of Romanian books was once again thoughtfully reorganized and made available to a select group of friends and close acquaintances within the community. By this time, access had become more limited, following the unfortunate loss of several volumes that had not been returned by earlier borrowers.

December 2002 – NILES, ILLINOIS – After 18 years of carefully preserving the collection in his home, Steven finally saw his dream fully realized. With the support of his wife, Simona, and Mr. John Capalnas, owner of A-American Custom Flooring, he opened the entire collection to the community in a specially designed space tailored to the needs of the library. By that time, the collection had grown to more than 7,000 volumes. Regrettably, during the following five years, over 400 books were once again lost due to non-return.

August 2007 – May 2009 – CLOSED & SEALED – Following the relocation of the offices of the Romanian publishing house established by Steven and Simona to a smaller location, the entire collection of books, published works, and artistic pieces was carefully placed in storage for the next two years, preserved in a warehouse until a new home could be secured.

May 2009 – NILES, ILLINOIS – Through the Grace of God and the generous support of our friends at A-American Custom Flooring, following the relocation of their store to its magnificent current location at 7777 N. Caldwell Avenue in Niles, we were once again blessed with the opportunity to secure a dedicated space for the Romanian Library. After extensive renovation work, new bookcases were installed along all the walls, complete with a custom-made protective sliding glass door system.

Because the room was significantly larger and well suited to gatherings, it soon became a welcoming setting for social and cultural events, networking meetings, and private celebrations for special occasions. At this stage, the library increasingly evolved into a cultural venue rather than a lending collection, as part of a deliberate effort to preserve and more carefully protect its inventory.

March 2014 – NILES, ILLINOIS – As a result of the building owners’ increased need for space at the Caldwell Avenue location, the offices of the Romanian publishing house were relocated from their designated offices into the library space. Consequently, we were no longer able to host or organize events, and the library thereafter served exclusively as an office and meeting room.

June 2015 – NILES, ILLINOIS – After several months of searching for a new location to house the operations of the Romanian publishing house and the Bonica family’s private collection of books and art objects, a new lease was secured nearby in the Howard Commons office complex. Following more than four months of extensive renovations and considerable financial investment, the doors once again opened to the Romanian community.

With six offices, a conference room, and a spacious area dedicated to the library, the new home was quickly embraced for its versatility. In addition to serving as a cultural and educational space, it also became a television recording studio during the unforgettable period of worldwide media involvement in support of the Bodnariu family reunification case that began in Norway. Once again, the library room was used primarily as a venue for social, cultural, and educational activities rather than as a lending collection.

July 2020 – NEW FOUNDATION – NEW BEGINNING – Foreseeing the end of the five-year lease and the substantial increase in monthly rent, yet greatly encouraged and inspired by family and friends, Steven and Simona Bonica began to rethink and plan for a self-sustaining solution. Their vision was to create a permanent home for the continuously growing library and its many resources, with the goal of transforming it into a true cultural, educational, and research center for future generations.

On the 25th anniversary of their publishing house, and in the midst of the COVID era—a time when people longed once again for opportunities to gather, socialize, and share fellowship—Steven and Simona founded a new organization to carry this vision forward.

Established as a not-for-profit organization with a Board of Directors made of closest collaborators and supporters with a desire to serve the community, the Romanian Heritage Center NFP was founded on July 1st 2020 as a faith-based cultural and educational religious organization in the Romanian-American community established to facilitate social-cultural programs which PROMOTE and NURTURE FELLOWSHIPS and the betterment of relationships.

December 2020 – July 2025 – CLOSED & SEALED AGAIN – With great hope and unshakable faith in God, who remained fully at the helm of their lives, Steven and Simona once again carefully packed the vast collection of books and the many other items that preserve and promote Romanian culture, loading everything into a semi-truck for transport. A large warehouse was rented in Arlington Heights, where all the boxes were placed on metal shelving and preserved in a temperature-controlled environment for far longer than originally intended.

After two years, the entire collection had to be moved again—and then twice more. At the times, it often seemed that the collection had become more of a burden than a blessing; yet hope remained alive, sustained by deep faith in God and the conviction that its purpose would one day be fulfilled.

April 7th 2022 – THE BIG DAY – THE GREAT PURCHASE

A HISTORIC MOMENT for the Romanian community in Chicago! The Romanian Heritage Center has finalized the process of purchasing its own building in Des Plaines!

Nearly two years after launching the initiative to acquire a permanent building to support the operations and long-term continuity of the Romanian Heritage Center NFP, the organization’s founders and Executive Board successfully completed the purchase of the properties located at 81 N. Broadway Street and 83 N. Broadway Street in the Chicago metropolitan suburb of Des Plaines.

After almost two years, the Romanian Heritage Center finally obtained the necessary approvals and construction permits required to renovate the building and build a new library equipped with all code-required amenities.

Over the next two years, with financial contributions from approximately 150 supporters and the hands-on efforts of more than 50 dedicated individuals, the Romanian Heritage Center transformed an abandoned warehouse on a prominent street in the heart of downtown Des Plaines into an inviting and inspiring space devoted to learning, fellowship, and cultural community life.

March 28, 2026 – THE CONSECRATION THAT MARKS A NEW STAGE – THE ROMANIAN LIBRARY IS NOW A RADIO & TV RECORDING STUDIO

A defining and deeply spiritual milestone in the history of the Romanian Heritage Center was the prayer of consecration and blessing offered by His Eminence Nicolae Condrea, Metropolitan of the Romanian Orthodox Church in North and Central America. Through his presence and pastoral blessing, the Center and its library were entrusted to God’s grace and protection, being consecrated as a place dedicated to learning, fellowship, faith, and the preservation of Romanian identity and heritage for future generations. This sacred moment affirmed not only the significance of the mission, but also the spiritual foundation upon which the entire work has been built.

At this special event, by the Grace of God, we also had the great joy of officially opening the audiovisual recording and production studio at the Romanian Heritage Center.

We had the distinct honor of being joined by Her Excellency Ana-Maria Geană, Secretary of State for the Diaspora within the Presidential Administration of Romania, who, together with Prof. Simona Julia Bonica, co-founder of the Romanian Library, cut the symbolic ribbon, marking this special moment in a solemn and moving way.

We were also honored by the presence of the following guests (photo: from left to right):

• H.E. Anton Lungu – Consul General of the Republic of Moldova in Chicago, Consulate General of the Republic of Moldova in Chicago
• H.E. Lucian Stanica – Consul General of Romania in Chicago, Consulate General of Romania in Chicago
• Steven Bonica – Founder, President & Executive Director of the Romanian Heritage Center
• His Eminence Nicolae (Condrea) – Metropolitan of the Romanian Orthodox Church of the Americas,
• Rev. Cornell Petrișor from Seattle, Washington – real estate developer and financier of the project to acquire the center’s building.

CONCLUSION & INVITATION TO CONTINUE BUILDING A LASTING LEGACY

From humble beginnings and through many years of sacrifice, perseverance, faith, and unwavering dedication, this journey stands as a testament to a lifelong commitment to serve the Romanian community and to preserve the richness of our identity, culture, faith, and heritage in the United States. What has been built through the devotion of countless family members, friends, supporters, and volunteers now belongs not only to the present generation, but also to those who will follow.

As we look toward the future, we humbly invite all who cherish our heritage to stand with us once again through renewed support, partnership, and generosity. Together, we can build a lasting legacy for future generations, ensuring that Romanian culture, history, language, and values continue to live on, inspire, and strengthen our community for decades to come.

A book is currently being written …

SPECIAL THANKS

TO D.R.P. – Departamentul pentru Românii de Pretutindeni al Guvernului României

TO KBD GROUP of Atlanta – for the custom made high quality furniture
and GLASS DIMENSIONS – for the custom made sliding glass enclosure

TO ALL THE DONORS – APPROX. 150 INDIVIDUALS AND ENTITIES

Our heartfelt thanks go to all those who chose to support this unique and historic project through financial contributions, donated labor and materials, and the many services and goods that made this dream a reality.

It is our sincere hope to continue serving you, your families, your friends, and the generations to come who will inherit and carry forward this precious legacy.