Glob@l Libraries - Bulgaria Program Presentation

1

Initiative of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation implemented in 14 countries around the world

6 grantees in Europe: Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Ukraine

“Global Libraries” has 5 EU member countries: Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania

Glob@l Librariesin Europe

2

Ministry of Culture (Lead Organization)

United Nations Development Programme

(Implementing Agency)

Ministry of Transport, InformationTechnology and Communications

National Association of Municipalities in the Republicof Bulgaria

Bulgarian Library and Information Association

Glob@l Librariesin Bulgaria

960 glob@l libraries providing public access to IT equipment and the Internet

260 host municipalities

895 towns and villages of all sizes

WHAT DO WE HAVE in Bulgaria?

4

5

WHERE?

6

7

13 492 equipment items (desktops, laptops, multifunctional printers, network and multimedia devices) - 4935 are computers

7 equipment packages based on library space and population size (3 to 25 computers for users per library)

Microsoft software donated for all workstations

Internet access provided by the municipality / chitalishte

Decentralized IT infrastructure

Options for centralized IT infrastructure for GLB under consideration

ICT

8

By the end of 2011:o Multi-subject training for librarians (2011-2013)

30+ training days per participant

1467 librarians trained in ICT

1841 librarians trained in other fields

o ICT training for citizens (organized by the target libraries)

2114 group training event

13875 adults trained in computer / Internet

WHAT’S GOING ON?

9

Help for unemployed people to find jobs

Help for farmers to buy or sell machinery and consumables

Filling in applications for financial subsidies

Lists of medications approved by the Bulgarian National Health Insurance Fund and health-related information

Health insurance checks

Help for young people to find / enroll in schools and universities

Searching for information on EU-funding

Preparation of project proposals

Paying household bills online

10

Chitalishte library in a settlement with population between 500 and 2,500 inhabitants

3 desktop computers (with cameras and headphones), a multimedia projector, a multifunctional printer and scanner, network equipment

A full-time librarian (8 hours / day) helping visitors use the ICT equipment and access e-services

As of end-2011, the librarian has been trained in ICT and at least one more area

The library has just started providing access to e-services

A Typical “Glob@l Library” in Bulgaria - early 2012

11

For 2011we can report…

12

13

More Library Visits – percentage increase compared to More Library Visits – percentage increase compared to 2010 2010

For the first half of 2011 the increase of the visits is

11 %

By the end of 2011 the total increase is 16%

The greatest increase is reported in the small

settlements – up to 2500 inhabitants

14

Built infrastructure: 4,935 public Internet access spots

Librarians trained to assist library users

Innovative services for the population based on ICT

A network with high potential – technical, human and institutional infrastructure at 960 points

In conclusion…

15

Increasing the added valueof the Glob@l Libraries – Bulgaria network in providing access to electronic services

and facilitating digital inclusion

What do we offer?

16