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Initiative of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation implemented in 14 countries around the world

6 grantees in Europe: Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Ukraine

“Global Libraries” has 5 EU member countries: Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania

Glob@l Librariesin Europe

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Ministry of Culture (Lead Organization)

United Nations Development Programme

(Implementing Agency)

Ministry of Transport, InformationTechnology and Communications

National Association of Municipalities in the Republicof Bulgaria

Bulgarian Library and Information Association

Glob@l Librariesin Bulgaria

960 glob@l libraries providing public access to IT equipment and the Internet

260 host municipalities

895 towns and villages of all sizes

WHAT DO WE HAVE in Bulgaria?

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WHERE?

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8,742 equipment items (desktops, laptops, multifunctional printers, network and multimedia devices) - 4,962 of these are computers

7 equipment packages based on library space and population size (3 to 25 computers for users per library)

Microsoft software donated for all workstations

Internet access provided by the municipality / chitalishte

Decentralized IT infrastructure

Options for centralized IT infrastructure for GLB under consideration

ICT

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o Multi-subject training for librarians (2011-2013)

- 30+ training days per participant

2011: 1,467 librarians trained in ICT;

1,841 librarians trained in other fields

o ICT training for citizens (organized by the target libraries)

Jan.-Sep. 2011: 1,189 group training events 8,210 adults trained in computer / Internet

WHAT’S GOING ON?

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Help for unemployed people to find jobs

Help for farmers to buy or sell machinery and consumables

Filling in applications for financial subsidies

Lists of medications approved by the Bulgarian National Health Insurance Fund and health-related information

Health insurance checks

Help for young people to find / enroll in schools and universities

Searching for information on EU-funding

Preparation of project proposals

Paying household bills online

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Chitalishte library in a settlement with population between 500 and 2,500 inhabitants

3 desktop computers (with cameras and headphones), a multimedia projector, a multifunctional printer and scanner, network equipment

A full-time librarian (8 hours / day) helping visitors use the ICT equipment and access e-services

As of end-2011, the librarian has been trained in ICT and at least one more area

The library has just started providing access to e-services

A Typical “Glob@l Library” in Bulgaria - early 2012

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For the first 6 months of 2011we can report…

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Built infrastructure: 4,962 public Internet access spots

Librarians trained to assist library users

Innovative services for the population based on ICT

A network with high potential – technical, human and institutional infrastructure at 960 points

In conclusion…

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Increasing the added valueof the Glob@l Libraries – Bulgaria network in providing access to electronic services

and facilitating digital inclusion

What do we offer?

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