Why do Bulgarian Libraries Need Partners?

Like the country itself, Bulgarian libraries are recovering from 50 years of communist domination. They are moving from some support from the central communist government to minimal or no support from local governments. Most are managed by professional librarians (there are both undergraduate and graduate library programs in Bulgaria). Most have very small to non-existent book budgets. New books (and good used ones) tend to come from donations from other countries and from a publisher's book deposit program that benefits the largest of libraries.

There are many types of libraries in Bulgaria: public, college and university, school, community (called chitaliste), technical, and special. This program is designed to help those librarians who want to improve their library collection and services and reach out to America to begin a cultural dialog.

They need books and multi-media resources. They want books in English to help young people enhance their future, and books on American history, culture, automation and economics to help their older students.