1. PARTNERSHIP AND INTERACTION
OF THE LIBRARY AT BUDILNIK 1898
PUBLIC CHITALISHTE IN RAKITOVO
WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND
NGOs
Prepared by: Maria Mirova-Dimova,
Chief Librarian

2. The Library at Budilnik 1898 Public Chitalishte
in Rakitovo
 “Partnership is a form of cooperation between
organizations sharing common areas of operations,
common goals and joint activities.”
 “No public library, regardless of its size and funds, can
meet on its own all the needs of its users.” Its involvement
in partnerships, cooperation and networks with other
libraries and similar organizations and the provision of
access to other sources of information enables the
achievement of its goals.

3. The Library at Budilnik 1898 Public Chitalishte
in Rakitovo
 As a modern, active, public, information, culture and
educational community complex, the library is a
necessary partner to local authorities.
 The involvement of local library funding decision makers
is a key priority of library activities. The interaction
between them is a form of a mutually beneficial
partnership.

4. The Library at Budilnik 1898 Public Chitalishte
in Rakitovo
KEY SUCCESSFUL COOPERATION RULES
 Clarity on common activities in line with goals of
respective organizations;
 Accurate allocation of participants’ resources;
 Clear-cut distribution of responsibilities;
 Elaboration of work plans and deadlines;
 Independence with regard to anything happening
outside the framework of joint activities.

5. The Library at Budilnik 1898 Public Chitalishte
in Rakitovo
Involvement of Budilnik Library in the first stage of the Glob@l
Libraries – Bulgaria Program and motivation of local authorities for
support and cooperation
WHAT WE DID:
Organization of a roundtable with library partners
 Roundtable with representatives of the Sutkya public-
benefit association, Future Roma Foundation, St. Nedelya
Day Center for Elderly People, Culture Department and the
Deputy Mayor of Rakitovo Municipality, teachers, library
users.

6. The Library at Budilnik 1898 Public Chitalishte
in Rakitovo
 Presentation to the chitalishte board of trustees of the
program and the necessary renovation and preparation
works in the premise where the ICT equipment is to be
located.
 Meetings and conversations with the Mayor of Rakitovo
Municipality; talks with the Senior Accountant.

7. The Library at Budilnik 1898 Public Chitalishte
in Rakitovo
Identification of goals and deadlines, analysis of
potential and resources
 Once elaborated, the action plan can be modified in the
process of work.
Coalition building
 Uniting the efforts of volunteers, the public, library users,
etc. for the common cause:

8. The Library at Budilnik 1898 Public Chitalishte
in Rakitovo
 Moving departments and vacating the premise by
librarians and temporarily employed workers
 Installation of a hanging ceiling and new lighting by
Rakitovo Municipality. Purchase of necessary furniture

9. The Library at Budilnik 1898 Public Chitalishte
in Rakitovo
 Uniting the efforts of library and chitalishte staff, theater
volunteers for finalizing the renovation works – door and
window painting, cleaning and room refurbishment.
 Electricity and internet networks installed by the
Municipality.

10. The Library at Budilnik 1898 Public Chitalishte
in Rakitovo
Dialogue with partners and local authorities,
media outreach
• Opening and consecration of the room hosting the ICT equipment
provided under the Glob@l Libraries Program attended by
representatives of partner organizations.
• Media coverage in regional press, (recognized library partners throughout
the years), the chitalishte’s website, the Municipality’s website.
• Promotional posters in the town’s most visible locations.

11. The Library at Budilnik 1898 Public Chitalishte
in Rakitovo
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CHARITY FAIR
Partners:
Library users, local authorities
WHAT WE DID:
Formulation of a clear-cut goal on which the
raised funds will be spent.
- In 2009, the raised funds were used for buying clothes for 10 children
in need as per a list provided by the Child Protection Agency.
- In 2010, the campaign was targeted at replenishing the library stock
with the most popular and newly published literature.
- In 2011, one of the Automated Library software modules – for book
processing – was purchased.

12. The Library at Budilnik 1898 Public Chitalishte
in Rakitovo
•Meetings and conversations with readers and partners
who demonstrate a supportive and positive attitude
toward library cause and activities.
• Distribution of tasks among volunteers, according to
their individual skills and personal engagement, for the
production of thematic Christmas fair items.
• Convincing the chitalishte management on allocating
funds for purchasing the necessary materials.

13. The Library at Budilnik 1898 Public Chitalishte
in Rakitovo
• Meeting with local authorities representatives – in the general
case, the mayor or the deputy, for presenting the cause and
soliciting their support.

14. The Library at Budilnik 1898 Public Chitalishte
in Rakitovo
• Media outreach – press releases or articles on forthcoming events
are published in the local Tempo newspaper, the Municipality’s
website, the chitalishte’s website, and broadcast on Rakitovo local
radio station; promotion brochures are printed out and posters are
displayed in the town’s most visited locations.
• The fair is traditionally hosted in the municipal ritual hall, with the
support of the Mayor.

15. The Library at Budilnik 1898 Public Chitalishte
in Rakitovo
• Responding to the interests and receiving the support of civil
groups and local community organizations is instrumental for the
sustainable development of the library. Therefore, the library, when
invited, takes part in various partnerships.
 Library participation in the
local initiative group for
preparation of the Terra Bessica
territory for competitive
territorial development through
the implementation of the
Leader approach.

16. The Library at Budilnik 1898 Public Chitalishte
in Rakitovo
 The goal of our library is to constantly increase the number of library
service users.
- One of the strategies we utilize is going out of the library building and
participating in cultural events of wide public popularity.
2012 Easter bazaar exhibition organized jointly with
Rakitovo Municipality

17. The Library at Budilnik 1898 Public Chitalishte
in Rakitovo
As a result of the partnership established with local authorities and
the library image among the public, the conducted meetings and
talks with the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor of Rakitovo
Municipality proved effective.
• On 1 April 2012, two modules of the Automated Library software
were purchased with municipal funds: Classifiers. Service Functions;
and Reader Services.

18. The Library at Budilnik 1898 Public Chitalishte
in Rakitovo
The library – partner to local authorities in the establishment of an
initiative committee for the 100th anniversary of the Balkan War
• Initiative committee members were divided in a number of
work committees, in two of which the library had a leading role.

19. The Library at Budilnik 1898 Public Chitalishte
in Rakitovo
CONCLUSIONS BASED ON OUR PRACTICE:
• The establishment of partnerships is crucial to library development and the
accomplishment of library goals.
• Both success and failure result in accumulation of experience and facilitate
the implementation of future joint projects.
• The relationship between the library and local authorities is instrumental for
its development and the financial and resource security of library activities.
Therefore, we always demonstrate our support for local government.
• Another key factor is the public image we have built in the eyes of the public,
local authorities and politicians.
http://www.chitalishte-rakitovo.org/
Rakitovo
4 A. Stamboliyski St.