1. The practices of the Chitalishte Library
in Zlatograd
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2.  Bulgaria’s southernmost city;
 The birthplace of Delyo
Voivode;
 One of the 100 national
tourist sites – a living
architectural reserve;
 The biggest sanctuary
dedicated to the Sun God;
 The oldest church in Mid
Rhodope Mountains.
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3. Glob@l Libraries:
Why in Zlatograd?
 The oldest written monument of the Rhodope Revival
was created here;
 More than 120 architectural and archeological
monuments of culture;
 The only museum of communications in Bulgaria;
 Chitalishte with traditions of more than 100 years.
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4. Glob@l Libraries in Zlatograd
because: (2)
 librarians are strongly motivated;
 local authorities are open to projects;
 citizens stimulate local initiatives;
 program opportunities allow for it;
 i.e. a PARTNERSHIP has “ripened”.
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5. In 1924, the library organized two courses in a local café:
 The first one in the popular at the time Esperanto
international language, attended by 35 people for six
months;
 The second one in bookkeeping, attended by 15
participants for three months and conducted by a
Bulgarian National Bank accountant.
(chitalishte history)
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6. OUR CHITALISHTE– the evolution
1934 2012
The buildings of Prosveta 1908 Public Chitalishte
in Zlatograd 6

7. OUR CHITALISHTE –
the content
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8. THE LIBRARY
(prior to becoming a glob@l library)
• Establishment of a reading room and a
1920 library
• Provision of newspapers and magazines –
1931 26 titles
• The librarian undergoes training
1952 • Adoption of a new decimal classification
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9. OUR LIBRARY in numbers
(prior to becoming a glob@l library)
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
1948 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 2011
Налични книги посетители Прочетени книги
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10. OUR LIBRARY in pictures
1956 Methods for increasing the
number of unique users:
• book delivery to
readers, especially to children;
• posting the list of newly
purchased books in a visible
location;
• radio lecture “The Meaning of
Progressive Books”.
Summer reading
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11. OUR LIBRARY in pictures
2000 Methods for increasing the
number of unique users:
• constant renovation of
library stock;
• periodicals;
• thematic exhibitions;
• meetings with authors.
Thematic book
exhibition
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12. OUR LIBRARY in pictures
2011
Glob@l for 1 year:
 Modern equipment;
 Access to the internet
and content;
 Trained library staff;
 Wide range of services.
Library Information
Center
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13. OUR LIBRARY
in…2022
?...
Matter of our
dreams
Product of our
deeds
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14. What has changed with
GLOB@L LIBRARIES?
… but also the
Not only the building
atmosphere and
and equipment, content.
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15. OUR GLOBAL LIBRARY:
Is not just about …but also
the numbers of about a change
readers and in community
borrowed books, life.
Is not just …but about true
about visitors, PARTNERSHIPS.
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17. PARTNERS: TRUE FRIENDS AND
SEARCHING READERS
Forum theater - a youth
initiative within the “Let’s
Break Stereotypes
Together” campaign, in
partnership with the
chitalishte library in
Zlatograd
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18. PARTNERS: TRUE FRIENDS AND
SEARCHING READERS
With our friends from Zora Day Center and
the Center for Public Support 18

19. Our Partners:
Amateur art groups:
 Active readers;
 Artistic meetings;
 Book presentations.
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20. Glob@l Library Partners:
Computer training
participants 60+
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21. Glob@l Library Partners:
Vocational training centers and
external training organizations
Entrepreneurship courses;
- Environmentalists;
- Road construction;
- Hairdressing, etc.
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22. More Library Partners:
Fiut
Egmont BG
Anubis
Bulvest 2000
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23. And those who can always be
our partners and yet
we often overlook:
The other chitalishte/district
libraries
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24.  To overcome a problem of significance for us
and the community;
 To diversify the provided services and areas of
operations;
 To modify the image and the atmosphere;
 To share expenditures and common resources;
 For communication, control;
 For additional support;
 For the “fashionable” sustainability.
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25.  Resource center for unemployed people;
 Access to e-government services and the
information center in general;
 The book “100 Years Prosveta Chitalishte in
Zlatograd”;
 Celebration of the World Book and Copyright
Day.
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26. Partnership Initiatives
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27. Partnership
Initiatives
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28.  Participation of
amateur
performers in
library events
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29. Not just about building and
equipment,
but also about
content, atmosphere and
traditions
that change our everyday lives.
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30. Let’s share a moment of partnership
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31. Instead of a conclusion –
the role of partnership:
Arguments from 1940 for the preservation of the
chitalishte in Zlatograd:
 “The chitalishte and the library are a living
monument of intrinsic agreement and
tolerance…
 The chitalishte and the library are conducive to
the elimination of personal selfishness.
 The chitalishte channels a spirit of close
friendship, natural activities and a parched
thirst for knowledge.”
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32. Motives (2) from 1940 for the preservation of the
chitalishte in Zlatograd (continued):
 “It excites citizens’ interest in reading.
 It is a center of spiritual life aiming to expand the
acquired literacy.
 The chitalishte is and will be the center of every cultural
and public initiative, a temple of Bulgarian thought and
word, and a material expression of Bulgarian spiritual
might.”
70 years later, this sounds
topical and feasible
through the Global Libraries.
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33. 33

34. Prepared by:
Plamen Chingarov,
Zorka Hadzhieva
Phone: 0307 14207
0894 744964
Library at
Prosveta 1908 Public Chitalishte, Zlatograd
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