This document summarizes the results of a survey assessing the impact of Bulgaria's Glob@l Libraries program. The program equipped public libraries with computers, internet access, and training for librarians. Surveys found the program significantly increased library visits and users, internet usage at libraries, and use of new digital services. Many users now rely on libraries as their only access to computers and the internet. The program helped people study, improve jobs skills, search for jobs and health information. It also strengthened family/community ties. Vulnerable groups like Roma and unemployed saw particularly strong impacts on communication, community integration, and qualification. In conclusion, the program gave many people new opportunities to participate in the digital world and improved their lives

1. 911
towns and
villages
260
municipalities
98.5% of the territory of
the country

2. 960
libraries
2009
2010
2011

3. 13,942 units
of equipment
4,935 points
for free-of-charge
access to the Internet
3,740 trained librarians prepared to assist
users in their work with technology

4. e-health
e-employment
e-culture
e-entertainment
e-education
e-communication
e-government
e-business
New
ICT-based
services in
8 thematic
areas

5. 4 target groups
3 surveys
Librarians
aiming to assess
Program impact on
people’s lives
Library users
Population of the
country
2010
2012
2013
Local business,
administration and
partners

6. THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF PROGRAM
IMPACT ON USERS’ LIVES

7. OVER 5,900,000 LIBRARY VISITS IN 2013
2013
5,941,897
2012
5,823,999
2013
35%
growth
2009
2011
2010
2009
5,170,647
4,844,582
4,397,771
72% of all visits to public libraries
in Bulgaria in 2012 are in the target
libraries

8. OVER 614,000 LIBRARY USERS IN 2013
2013
2012
2011
2010
614,530
78-81% of users
visit libraries
more often
541,748
464,886
2013
416,513
2009
2009
over 2/3 –
because of
computers
458,663
35%
growth

9. MORE ABOUT USERS
7-10 y.
Gender
male
56%
population
44%
44%
56%
Age
7 y.
target libraries
11%
21%
population
10%
24%
Ethnic Group
target libraries
n: people, using library at least once a
month, target libraries – 830 people;
population – 140 people
population
25%
30%
Bulgarian
Turkish
73%
8 y.
9 y.
42%
36%
Roma
13%
91%
10 y.
other
13%
4%
target libraries
female
6%

10. MORE ABOUT USERS
11-18 y.
Gender
male
target libraries
population
55%
45%
46%
54%
Age
target libraries
population
Ethnic Group
target libraries
n: people, using library at least once a
month, target libraries – 855 people;
population – 318 people
population
female
11-12 y.
41%
13-15 y.
16-18 y.
40%
32%
19%
43%
Bulgarian
74%
87%
Turkish
25%
Roma
13%
other
11%
8% 6%

11. MORE ABOUT USERS
Over 18 y.
Bulgarian
target libraries
Personal Income
target libraries
n: people, using library at
least once a month, target
libraries – 814 people;
population – 145 people
population
no income
12%
3%
2%
secondary
26%
lower
62%
35%
12%
60%
BGN 301-500
34%
30%
10%
higher
up to BGN 300
22%
other
95%
Educational Level
population
Roma
81%
population
target libraries
Turkish
5%
4%
Ethnic Group
over BGN 500
19%
23%
10%
16%
5%
no answer
14%
19%

12. 4 TIMES MORE INTERNET USERS
IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES
2010
2013
11.1%
7.3%
4.6%
1.8%
7-10 y.
4.1%
0.8%
11-18 y.
18+ y.
n: population, 2013: 7-10 y.-400 people; 11-18 y. - 800 people; 18+y.-1200 people;
2010: 7-10 y.-274 people; 11-18 y.-607 people; 18+y.-1003 people
In total,
over 321 000
people or 4.7%
of population
over 7 years of
age

13. 98 000 PEOPLE CLAIM
THE LIBRARY IS THEIR ONLY OPPORTUNITY
TO ACCESS COMPUTER AND THE INTERNET
▪ Among them:
▪ Roma represent 34% of children, 31% of
youth and 12% of adults,
▪ the unemployed are 31%,
▪ pensioners are 27%,
▪ people with secondary or lower
education are 28%.

14. INCREASED USAGE OF NEW SERVICES
е-entertainment
for the children
TOP
E-SERVICES
е-education for
the young
people
e-communication for
the adults
GROWTH of the share of
people who have used at least
one new service:
2012
60%
2013
88%

15. GROWTH OF TRADITIONAL SERVICE USAGE AS WELL
3.3
18+ y.
11-18 y.
7-10 y.
3.2
2.5
2.0
1.8
0.9
users
2.4
1.8
1.7
1.0
0.5
population
NEW SERVICES
1.4
users
population
2
2
TRADITIONAL SERVICES
n: library users, 2013 г.: target libraries: 7-10 y.- 844 people, 11-18 y.- 862 people, 18+y. - 843 people;
population: 7-10 y. - 182 people, 11-18 y. - 490 people, 18+ y. - 327 people.

16. LIBRARIANS SUPPORTING USERS
IN EACH LIBRARY
none
2013 0.4%
2012
2010
one
47%
7%
three and more
39%
47%
23%
two
14%
34%
58%
12%
9%
10%
n: librarians, 2013 - 502 people; 2012 – 844 people; 2010 – 798 people

17. THE NEW
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE
LIBRARIES AND THE
DILIGENT WORK OF
LIBRARIANS CHANGED
PEOPLE’S LIVES
THIS IS HOW LIBRARIES
DID IT. THEY…

18. STIMULATED PEOPLE TO WORK ACTIVELY WITH
COMPUTERS AND THE INTERNET
As a result:
477 000
people started
using
technologies
more often
397 000
people
read more
61% of youth and
76% of adult users
saved money

19. HELPED PEOPLE STUDY AND IMPROVE
THEIR QUALIFICATION
As a result:
Students
increased their
achievements at
school
161 000 users
improved their
work qualification
40 000
people
increased their
incomes

20. GAVE PEOPLE NEW PERSPECTIVES
IN JOB SEARCH
As a result:
19 300 people
received
job offers

21. SUPPORTED PEOPLE IN THEIR SEARCH
FOR HEALTH-RELATED INFORMATION
As a result:
118 000
people
made informed
health-related
decisions
114 000
people
improved their
health status

22. FACILITATED ACCESS TO
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
As a result:
93 000 people
• saved time in communication with local and central authorities
11 700 people
• received financial aid or another type of social assistance

23. STRENGTHENED RELATIONSHIPS
IN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
As a result:
Over 347,000 people communicate more often with
their friends, relatives and family
Over 60% of young people and over 80% of adult library users:
• feel more informed about public and civic activities,
• participate more actively in local community life.

24. IMPACT IS EVEN HIGHER FOR
THE VULNERABLE GROUPS
Communication
Community Integration
Better Qualification
Job Search
Income

25. GLOB@L LIBRARIES - BULGARIA
▪ Increased NUMBER OF VISITS at the target libraries
▪ Encouraged INTERNET USAGE at the libraries
▪ Stimulated USAGE OF TECHNOLOGIES
▪ Motivated users to use MORE SERVICES at the libraries
▪ Provided EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES for global information society
integration
▪ Encouraged people to COMMUNICATE MORE and stimulated
local community development

26. Gave a chance for BETTER LIFE!

27. THANK YOU!