The document discusses the results of a study on the impact of the Global Libraries - Bulgaria program on modernizing Bulgarian libraries. The study found the program helped increase access to technology and improved digital skills, particularly benefiting vulnerable groups. The report recommends Bulgarian libraries continue developing innovative ICT services and partnering with local communities to promote social inclusion.

1. THE GLOB@L LIBRARIES – BULGARIA
PROGRAM AND THE CHANGES TO
BULGARIAN LIBRARIES (VISION,
SERVICES, USERS)
1
Krasimir Hristov
Sliven, 29 November 2012

2. GLOB@L LIBRARIES – BULGARIA PROGRAM IMPACT ASSESSMENT INTERIM STUDY
Implementation Alpha Research
Period August–October 2012
Assessment of the GLB Program impact focusing on:
 Comparative analysis vis-à-vis Baseline Study data
 Impact on end target groups:
- target library user
- local communities
Objectives - general public
 Range of ICT services at target libraries
 Need of and interest in new services
 Potential for development of innovative services
and ensuring sustainability of results beyond the
end of the program 2

3. INTERIM STUDY CHARACTERISTICS
Quantitative methods
 Nationally representative survey among the adult
population
Component 1  Nationally representative survey among children
and young people (7–10 and 11–18 years)
 Survey among target library users (7–10, 11–18 and
18+ years)
 Survey among target library staff
Qualitative methods
 Focus groups with target library users, target library
staff and local community representatives/local
Component 2
partners
3

4. NATIONAL-LEVEL TRENDS
Substantial growth in ICT usage among the entire population.
LEADING CONCLUSION!
Target libraries equipped with modern ICT technology and trained
staff provide opportunities for social inclusion of vulnerable
groups like:
 People living in small settlements
 Minority groups
 Elderly people (60+)
 People with low incomes and unemployed people
 Children and young people
4

5. NATIONAL-LEVEL DYNAMICS
2012
Children 7–10 years
2010
- 75% used a computer - 91% say they are
familiar with
- 52% high self-
computers
evaluation of ICT skills
-71% high self-
- 2% used library
evaluation of ICT skills
computers
Computer games and - 10% use library
entertainment are a - 20% liked reading very
computers
major computer use much
incentive among - 30% like reading very
children (84%). much 5

6. NATIONAL-LEVEL DYNAMICS
Young people 11–18 Computers have • 74% (2010)
years become part of
everyday life
• 83% (2012)
The library – a
popular place • 5% (2010)
for young
people to
• 13% (2012)
access ICT
With growing age,
computers become means
of communication. (82% Positive
use social networks at • 36% (2010)
attitude
least once a week).
toward • 69% (2012)
libraries with • 80% - in villages
6
ICT (2012)

7. NATIONAL-LEVEL DYNAMICS
Adults 18+ 2010 2012
Growth of
computer users
38% 45%
Internet – the
third most
popular library
5% 16%
Computers/internet service
are used more for
communication and The modern
entertainment image of the ICT 51% 65%
purposes than for job library
related activities
(63% - Skype). Citizens’ weak
interest in 68.1% 74% 7
libraries

8. LEADING NATIONAL-LEVEL TRENDS
POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT
• Population in • Hobbies and interests (18%)
villages/small towns • Admin services (16%)
• Unemployed people • Health (14%)
• Minorities • Employment (14%)
• People with low incomes Leading Need of
target ICT based
• Children and young groups
people services
(18+)
Age Risks
• Learning through (7–18) (18+)
computer games (50% of
children) • Lack of library service needs
• ICT – a youth attraction (66 %)
tool • Lack of interest in library ICT
• Complementary services (52%)
educational role in • Weak interest in the 8
building ICT skills (39% - development of ICT skills
11–18 years)

9. REVITALIZING INTEREST IN LIBRARIES
THROUGH MODERN TECHNOLOGY
ICT
ICT CHILDREN /
YOUTH
ADULTS
LIBRARY
REGISTRATION 50% 32%
INCENTIVE
GROWTH IN
LIBRARY VISIT 70% 54%
FREQUENCY
ICT – A LEADING
REASON 73% 62%
9
Survey among target library users

10. THE GLOB@L LIBRARIES – BULGARIA
A POINT TO DIGITAL AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
• Elderly people (51–60) – most
YOUTH affected by library ICT training
CHILDREN (38%)
• Young adults (18–30) and
unemployed people point out
most frequently that the free
access to ICT is the reason for
their more frequent library visits.
20% of adults have looked for jobs
at the library, 8% were successful.
• Youth (11–18) – every tenth
person has participated in library
training (in 30% of the cases these
are ICT training events) 10
Survey among target library users

11. THE GLOB@L LIBRARIES – BULGARIA
A POINT TO DIGITAL AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
YOUTH
• People in villages and small
CHILDREN towns are more active library
ICT users than people in big
towns and cities (especially
among children and youth –
more than 70% are active
users)
• For Turkish and Roma kids,
the library is often the only
place for access to ICT – active
users (78% and 80%)
11
Survey among target library users

12. NEED OF AND INTEREST IN ICT BASED INFORMATION SERVICES
• Information about • Computer skills courses
interesting things for working with
• Processing of pictures multimedia, processing
• Computer games of pictures, MS Office
• Topics – plants, • Topics – famous people,
animals, birthplace environment, birthplace
history history
7–10 11–18
• Information about 18+ 18+ • Online administrative
culture and recreation services
• Computer training • Education services
• Employment, social • Services related to
and health status economic activities
services 12
Survey among target library users

13. POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
THE LIBRARY: A REVITALIZED COMMUNITY CENTER
• The library – a modern information center for ICT based communication
and exchange of experience, not a “book depository”
• The library – an agent in the process of social inclusion of vulnerable
groups
“Program activities brought to the library “It’s nice, just like a club. You use some
users who had never set foot in it before. computers, share something, exchange
These are minority representatives”. information – like in a kind of a family”.
• The library – a sought-after partner to the local community
“In relation to the cultural initiatives taking place in the municipality, we have become
a very sought-after partner due to the fact that we already have equipment and 13
rooms”.

14. POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
THE LIBRARY: AN EDUCATIONAL CENTER
• Response to increased education needs – the majority of users (60%)
need ICT skills improvement, in contrast to the national-level trend.
• Lifelong learning – an alternative center for informal ICT training for
elderly people (51–60).
The group of the most elderly (60+) remains the most digitally 14
excluded one – 70% of them do not use library ICT whatsoever.

15. POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
THE LIBRARY: AN EDUCATIONAL CENTER
• Partnerships with schools – an auxiliary role in ensuring children’s and
young people’s literacy, school preparation and ICT skills development.
“Children are coming back to the “We are trying to include the
library and, along with computer multimedia in many activities
use, they also borrow books, talk to because it is interesting to everyone.
each other. After all, we are an We have started delivering open
intellectual environment where lessons with teachers on
language and everything else is at a encyclopedias, reference books,
very different level than in the dictionaries, and we use the
street...” multimedia.”
• Learning through playing – the library, as a place for ICT based
entertainment and communication of children and youth, has serious
resources for impacting the young generation’s personality 15
development.

16. POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
THE LIBRARY: A CENTER FOR INNOVATIVE ICT SERVICES
• Information services related to culture
• Services related to employment, online job search, social and health
insurance status.
“Many of our users are unemployed. “One of our unemployed people… aged
Some of them are not computer literate 50+… took part… in a training program
and the Glob@l Libraries Program is and then in the From Social Assistance
very helpful for them… we provide to to Employment Program… thanks to the
them free classes on CV design, for computers, he accessed the information,
example. Then we send the CVs to some filled in his papers, got involved and is
companies”. currently very happy”.
16
• Online communication services

17. UNFILLED SERVICE RANGE NICHES
TRAINING
BUSINESS
PARTNERSHIPS
ACCELERATED POSITIVE CHANGE IN 17
PEOPLE’S LIVES

18. DISTRICT MEETINGS HIGHLIGHTS IN 2012
 Exchange of experience (interesting practices) among
colleagues, including in different areas
 Attracting partners
 Work with volunteers
 Development of new e-services
 Provision of services to different local community target
groups
 Ideas of new library initiatives
 Interaction with local authorities
 Using new technology in regional studies activities
18

19. RECOMMENDATIONS
 Conduct meetings in 2013, if possible, together with other
districts
 Highlight untraditional library services and practices –
provision of e-services outside the library, thematic movie
lectures, innovative services for people at risk or with special
needs
 Short presentations in line with meetings’ topics
19

20. MEETINGS (LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FORUMS) IN 2013
District meetings of two districts Local meetings of target libraries
 More partners  Libraries from one district
 Attendance only by  Focus on a specific topic
libraries directly (employment, advocacy, etc.)
interested in the topic  Duration – one day
 Recommended duration  Can be:
– two days  Off-site (outside the DL)
 More than one meeting a
year
20

21. PRIORITIES OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FORUMS
 Target library advocacy
 Tracking and documentation of the program’s effect
(impact)
 Provision of modern ICT based services to citizens and
local communities
 Enhancing target libraries’ capacity for implementing
national policies in the area of digital inclusion
 Training of librarians and training of citizens at target 21
libraries

22. PROJECT PROPOSALS 2013
 Eligible beneficiaries – all target libraries
 Project proposal calls in two sessions
 Project duration of up to six months
 Approval based on Glob@l Libraries – Bulgaria
Program priorities
22

23. Thank you for your
attention!
Krasimir Hristov
Regional Manager
Glob@l Libraries – Bulgaria
Program Management Unit
1 Hristo Belchev St., floor 6, Sofia
Phone: +359 2 981 27 08
E-mail: k.hristov@glbulgaria.net 23
Web: www.glbulgaria.bg