Volunteer Based Good Practices and Innovative Services in the

Library at

“Huddling in the Balkan and hidden from the eyes,

blossoming pretty, there’s a place of freedom and thrive.

Its people are good mountaineers

living with tireless labor, sadness and cheers...”

Cherni Osam Village

Established in 1906 when a group of public figures created a written statement on the establishment of an independent chitalishte

which would “Create conditions for the intellectual and moral development of

villagers”The chitalishte maintains a comparatively big number of members

and participates actively in public development. Every year it takes part in various projects and thus it fills material

and inventory gaps. Last but not least, our Board of Trustees has undertaken the

ambitious task of ...preserving the healthy Balkan spirit of our village...

Chita l i shte Acti viti es in Cherni Osam

CH ITALISH TE ACTIVI TIES IN CH ERNI O SAM

The chitalishte library was established in 1906, right after Znanie Chitalishte was founded. Books were purchased and placed in the library bookcase especially designed for the purpose. Today, the library is hosted by the new chitalishte building in a premise of 52 sq.m.

Through the years, Znanie 1906 Public Chitalishte has never kept away from new technology. In 2004, the library got its first computer. It has had internet access since 2006. In 2008, the library purchased AB software and launched electronic cataloguing of its stock, processing of all newly acquired books and retroconversion of the entire library stock. In 2007 – 2008, the library renewed its stock through projects implemented under the program “Bulgarian Libraries: Places for Reading and Information” of the Ministry of Culture which improved service provision to patrons and attracted new library users.

In 2008, the Glob@l Libraries – Bulgaria Program was launched. We were among the libraries approved at the first stage and thus the library already has three computer configurations, a multimedia projector, a screen and a multifunctional device. A laptop was purchased under a project. A new LAN network was developed. Today, our library is an information and internet center.

Following the renovation and expanded library and information opportunities, the number of library visits has grown significantly. In addition to all the equipment, an additional librarian staff position was also provided under the program.

CH ITALISH TE ACTIVI TIES IN CH ERNI O SAM

In addition to traditional book lending, the library develops numerous volunteer activities. The most significant examples over the recent years include: Meeting with the writer Donka Petrunova and the poetesses Tsvetana Kacherilska and Lina Bordzhieva With the help of volunteers in 2009 the library organized and conducted a national poetry contest and in 2010 – 2011, the festival of amateur mountain movies “Under Ambaritsa Skies”. The library hosts study trips organized jointly with Vasil Levski Secondary School, individual sessions with library visitors, and has processed hundreds of library bibliographic requests.

VO LU N T E E R I N I T I AT I V E S

Activity 1.1 – Youth Exchange

Project: BG11/A1.1/486/R4

“The Mountain: a Good Place for Knowing Each Other”

Main Project Objectives:Bring together 23 participants from Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria

Provide a good environment for interpersonal and intercultural exchange

Improve the dialogue and participants’ attitude toward different nations’ traditions

and characteristics

Provide an opportunity for informal education and discussion of topics of

significance for regional development

Implement activities of public significance, thereby increasing the project’s positive

attitude

Synthesize “green” entrepreneurship ideas, good practices and attitude among local

people

Enhance young people’s involvement in volunteer activities and their interest in

participating in other similar initiatives.

Project Participants The project was implemented in the village of Cherni Osam in the period 13 –

21 April and organized on a voluntary basis by the project manager and participants. It would not have been implemented without the good facilities and

equipment provided by the library.

Paths and marking to the nearby Zelenikovo Monastery and Pleven chalet cleaned and freshened

Fir trees planted in the garden in front of the Museum of Natural History Good practices for facilitation of the entrepreneurial development of the region synthesized

Voluntary activities achieved as follows:

For further information and cooperation:

Znani e 1906 Pub l i c Ch i t a l i sh t e

Che r n i Os am 83 S t a r a P l a n i na S t .

PO Box : 5620 , 00359 879 076 726

ch i t a l i s h t e _z na n i e @a bv.bg www.z nan i e . yo l a s i t e . c om

Thank you for your attention!