National Library Week – 14–18 May 2018

In connection with the holding of the 13th National Library Week, the Central Agricultural Library and the Institute of Agricultural Economics will host Open Days from 14-31 May. During these days, the Central Agricultural Library will offer a free one-year reader’s card, library and information consultations and lectures on new technologies in scientific and information activities.

The introduction of new information systems in the educational process places the role and importance of traditional libraries under new requirements, redefining their role and the meaning of their use by society. The digital generation has entirely different expectations of libraries – as modern, well-equipped centres providing access to fast and at the same time high-quality information.

The programme “Global Libraries – Bulgaria” (2009 – 2013), which the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation supported with USD 15 million, is the most significant investment in the library sector, specifically in public libraries, for the entire period of transition. It was the driving force behind turning public libraries into places for free Internet access and into training centres for information literacy for socially disadvantaged citizens and senior citizens. The programme stimulated numerous positive changes – technological equipment for 960 libraries, enhancement of the qualifications of library professionals, and establishment of local training centres. The implementation of the programme proved that when there is a clear idea for reforms and consistent actions, concrete goals are achieved and the changes are tangible. Unfortunately, this programme was not incorporated into a comprehensive national strategy for improving and reforming the state of libraries in the context of the contemporary situation. Therefore, in the survey conducted by the Global Libraries Bulgaria Foundation in 2017, it is clearly evident that there are successful, regionally developed practices, but overall the library sector remains unsatisfactorily modernized.

The aim of the 13th National Library Week is to engage the attention of local authorities with the urgent problems in the library sector, so that libraries may become leading institutions in the processes of digitization, exchange of digital information, creation of open digital archives and access to e-government.

The official opening of National Library Week will take place in Sofia on 15 May 2018 (Tuesday) at 14:00 in the Sredets Hall of Sofia Hotel Balkan. The special guest at the opening will be Ms. Eva Maydell, Member of the European Parliament from GERB/EPP and President of the European Movement International.

Central Agricultural Library

The Central Agricultural Library (CAL) will hold Open Days from 14–31 May. During these days, the Central Agricultural Library will offer a free one-year reader’s card, library and information consultations and lectures on new technologies in scientific and information activities.

With its rich library collection of about 500,000 volumes of specialized literature, the CAL is the largest repository of agricultural literature in the country, accessible to all categories of users – researchers, doctoral students, students, lecturers, agricultural producers, agricultural specialists from various institutions, branch organizations and companies, as well as ordinary citizens.

Sofia, 125 “Tsarigradsko shose” Blvd., Bl. 1

“Agricultural Science in Support of Practice” – Institute of Agricultural Economics

In connection with the holding of the 13th National Library Week, on 16 May the Institute of Agricultural Economics will hold an Open Day under the motto “Agricultural Science in Support of Practice”. A meeting will be held at which leading agricultural institutes from the country, projects and a seminar on the topic “Young People in Agricultural Science” will be presented.

Programme of the Open Day – “Agricultural Science in Support of Practice” – 16.05.2018

9:30 – 09:45 Official opening – Prof. D.Sc. Vasil Nikolov, President of the Agricultural Academy

9:45 – 10:15 Presentation of the co-organizers:

➢         Agrobioinstitute;

➢         Institute of Animal Science;

➢         Institute of Cryobiology and Food Technologies;

➢         Institute of Ornamental Plants;

➢         Institute of Soil Science, Agrotechnologies and Plant Protection “N. Pushkarov”

Presentation of a project funded by the “Scientific Research” Fund on the topic: “Innovative models for increasing the

competitiveness of agricultural holdings in Bulgaria”, project leader Prof. D.Sc. Nina Koteva

10:15 – 11:00 “New Technologies in Scientific and Information Activities” – Rumyana Vasileva

11:00 – 13:00 Seminar on the topic: “Young People in Agricultural Science”

13:00 – 13:15 Closing

Venue: Institute of Agricultural Economics, Sofia, 125 “Tsarigradsko shose” Blvd., Bl. 1

(central foyer and the reading room of the CAL)