The document summarizes the activities and partnerships of several libraries in the Pravets municipality in Bulgaria. It describes how the libraries work with local schools, cultural institutions, and social services to provide educational programs and digital access to the community. It also discusses how the Global Libraries-Bulgaria program has helped modernize the libraries and expand their role in the small villages through new technology, resources, and opportunities for learning.

2. Pravets Municipality:
Target Libraries and
Their Partners

3. Pravets municipality –
clean nature, historical and
cultural sites, elite high
schools, alternative social
services, good investment
policy, sports and tourism.

4. Human activities on the territory
of Pravets date back to the Neolithic
period. Thracians and Romans, proto-
Bulgarians and Slavs left their marks
here. The numerous remains are silent,
yet positive proofs of ancient life on
these lands.
The name of Pravets comes from
“straight road”. Ancient roads ran
here: Roman, medieval, the road from
the capital Tarnovgrad to Sredets
during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.

5. In 1883, Pravets municipality was established as a village
municipality which subsequently changed its structure and
territory repeatedly.
In modern times, Pravets was announced a town with a
People’s Republic of Bulgaria State Council Decree of 16 October
1981.
31 years after that, the town keeps reviving.
Today, it is the center of a municipality incorporating a total
of eleven settlements – the town of Pravets and ten villages.
The population of the municipality is 7,892 people of whom
4,417 people live in the town of Pravets.

6. Eight chitalishte operate on the territory of Pravets
municipality. In 2012, a new chitalishte was established in the
smallest settlement of the municipality.

7. The town of Pravets hosts Zarya 1895
Public Chitalishte.
The chitalishte library was approved for participation in
the Glob@l Libraries – Bulgaria Program under Stage 2009.
This facilitated the access to information provided by the
library, transformed it into one of young people’s preferred
places and created opportunities for enhanced and new
partnerships.

8. Zarya 1895 Public Chitalishte, Pravets
The library at Zarya 1895 Public Chitalishte in Pravets works
successfully with institutions in various fields of action:
- educational institutions: Vasil Levski Primary School, Aleko
Konstantinov Foreign Language High School, Vocational High School
of Computing and Technology Systems;
- cultural institutions: Museum of History in Pravets, Mozart
Festival Pravets ’04 Association;
- social institutions: St. Ivan Rilski Wonder Worker Protected
House, Day Center Pravets, Club for Senior and Disabled People;
- Peace Corps volunteers;
- local authors, etc.

9. Zarya 1895 Public Chitalishte, Pravets
School children from the primary
school and the vocational schools in
the town visit the chitalishte library
on a daily basis.
The access to modern library services
helps them integrate to the global
information society and receive up-to-
date information.

10. Zarya 1895 Public Chitalishte, Pravets
In 2010, “Our Summer”
municipal program was launched.
The program includes activities
with first to fourth-graders and
fifth to seventh-graders from
Vasil Levski Primary School,
some of which are hosted by the
chitalishte library.
US Peace Corps volunteers Philip
Snedegar and Adam Medoff work
with the children.

11. Zarya 1895 Public Chitalishte, Pravets
Activities with children include computer classes, English language lessons
educational movies, etc.
The targeted activities are instrumental to the efficient utilization of
children’s leisure time in the summer.

12. Zarya 1895 Public Chitalishte, Pravets
Senior people from St. Ivan Rilski Protected House, the Day Center, and the
Club for Senior and Disabled People can visit the library and also receive on-site
services like distribution of and discussions on books, etc.
On various occasions and holidays, the young chitalishte amateur performers
organize dance and music shows which makes senior people’s daily lives more cheerful.

13. Zarya 1895 Public Chitalishte, Pravets
The building of Zarya 1895 Public
Chitalishte hosts the Museum of
History in Pravets and the Mozart
Festival – Pravets ‘04 Association.
Many of their initiatives are implemented
with the support of the chitalishte and the
equipment provided by the Global
Libraries – Bulgaria Program.

14. Vasil Tsenkov 1936 Public Chitalishte, Razliv
Approved at Stage 2010, the library at
Vasil Tsenkov 1936 Public Chitalishte
opened its computer room in 2011. This is
a step toward making the library a
modern information center where lifelong
learning takes place.
Users include people of any age and
ethnicity – all of them make use of the new
opportunities.

15. Vasil Tsenkov 1936 Public Chitalishte, Razliv
The library works successfully with the
school children from Hristo Botev
Primary School and St. Ivan Rilski
Home for Children Deprived of Parental
Care who prepare for school, make
presentations and stay busy in their free
time.
The chitalishte staff provides one-on-one
training of children and adults including: text-
processing; internet for beginners and
information search; social networks, etc.

16. Vasil Tsenkov 1936 Public Chitalishte, Razliv
The village club for senior and disabled
people, together with the chitalishte,
organizes village celebrations – a
successful model for the small-size
settlements with predominantly elderly
population.

17. Vazrazhdane 1927 Public Chitalishte, Dzhurovo
In the summer of 2011, the library at Vazrazhdane 1927 Public
Chitalishte, renovated and equipped under the Global Libraries –
Bulgaria Program, opened doors.
The library is located in the village with the biggest population
in the municipality.

18. Vazrazhdane 1927 Public Chitalishte, Dzhurovo
The chitalishte library works with the
children from Hristo Botev Primary School with
the main purpose of facilitating their integration
since they are of predominantly Roma origin.
A variety of training courses and
activities are implemented – computer skills,
games, listening to favorite fairy tales and songs,
watching movies.
Many young people learned to comply
with library rules. They learn about the benefits
of knowing computer technology and acquire
numerous useful habits.
Villagers show a special interest in the
fast and easy internet communication with their
family members living abroad.

19. Razvitie 1898 Public Chitalishte, Vidrare
The folk song group at
Razvitie 1898 Public
Chitalishte takes part in
numerous regional, national
and international forums. It
has received numerous
awards. Through the Global
Libraries – Bulgaria
Program, many young people
returned to the library to find
more opportunities for
expanding their knowledge.

20. Razvitie 1898 Public Chitalishte, Vidrare
Library partners include school children
from Vasil Levski Primary School and St.
Panteleimon Home for Children with Mental
Disabilities. Their socialization and
integration is also supported by US Peace
Corps volunteers. In the summer, many
children coming to their grandparents for
the vacation show special interest in visiting
the library.

21. The Global Libraries – Bulgaria Program opened up to
chitalishte libraries new opportunities for activities, partnerships
and initiatives.
The easy and equitable access to information, knowledge,
communication, e-services, free internet and other information and
communication technology enabled chitalishte libraries to make
small villages more attractive places offering improved living,
working and recreation conditions.
Thank you for your attention!
Prepared by Natalia Pancheva, Senior Culture Expert