In 2022, the 18th edition of the International Ex-Libris Competition, organized by the "Lyuben Karavelov" Regional Library - Ruse, "Ex Libris - Ex Piscatibus", was held. It was in line with the UN General Assembly's declaration of 2022 as the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture. This regular edition of the contest was held under the patronage and with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture and the "Culture" Program of the Municipality of Ruse. 365 works of 244 participants from 30 countries competed for the Grand Prix (Turkey, Bulgaria, Poland, China, Argentina, Mexico, Montenegro, Kazakhstan, etc.). Doyen among the participants this year is Gyorgy Boros - Hungarian by origin, born in 1934, who has been participating in the competition since 2014. The youngest artist joining the forum for the second time Magdalena Alexandrova was born in 2015. The coordinator of the judging this year was Theodore Liho, PhD - a lecturer at the National Academy of Arts. He made a living connection between the three juries, which included artists, cultural figures, members of the public, teachers, collectors, experts and young people. The children's jury from the summer art studios in the Art Gallery - Ruse with teacher Martin Petrov and students from St Constantine Cyril the Philosopher Secondary School of European Languages - Ruse with teacher Krasimira Kirilova ranked the works in the category up to 14 years. In the 14-26 years’ category, the Youth Jury evaluates - students from the National School of Arts in the Danube city, from the fine arts and graphic design classes, led by the artists Peyno Peynov and Grisha Kubratov. The composition of the international jury for the three categories was particularly serious: Peter S. Smith, UK - graphic artist, member of the Royal society of engravers, long-time director of Kingston college of art; Chavdar Popov - professor in history of arts at the National academy of arts in Sofia; Nedret Yashar - artist from Ruse, professor of fine arts at Yalova university, Istanbul, winner of the grand prize of the jury and the audience at the Miniart 2021 biennale in Ruse; Zang Lang, graduated in graphic arts from Sechuan fine arts institute, Chonchin, China. Currently teaches in the same institute; Desislava Hristova-Tosheva - graphic artist, doctor of art history, professor at the graphics department of Sofia national academy of arts; Dimo Kolibarov - graphic artist, professor at the graphics department of Sofia national academy of arts and director of Burgas filial of the academy; Magardich Kasapyan - artist from Plovdiv, doctor of pedagogical sciences - fine arts. professor of graphics at AMTII „prof. Asen Diamandiev”- Plovdiv, dean of the faculty of fine arts; Nikolina Djanovska - artist from Veliko Tarnovo, doctor of arts and assоciate professor in graphic arts at Veliko Tarnovo university, visual arts faculty; Milen Djanovski - artist from Veliko Tarnovo, doctor of arts and associate professor in graphic arts at Veliko Tarnovo university, visual arts faculty; Peyno Peynov - artist, teacher at the National school of arts in Ruse; Grisha Kubratov - artist, teacher at the National school of arts in Ruse; Krassimira Kirilova - artist, chief curator at Ruse art gallery and Martin Dobroslavov - artist and curator at the Ruse art gallery.

With the GRAND PRIX of the competition, the jury awarded Grzegorz Izdebski from Poland for Moby Dick bookplate.

The prize of Lyuben Karavelov" Regional Library - Ruse was awarded to Kalina Milanova from Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria for the work "All good things come to an end". This year participants also received several sponsorship awards. The prize of  "Zahari Stoyanov" - Foundation - Ruse was awarded to Vladimir Petkov from the city of Mizia. The award of the Rotary Club - Ruse went to Bilyana Dimitrova from Pordim, and this one - of the Chamber of Commerce - Ruse - to Desislava Valeva from Gorna Oryahovitsa.