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2.  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 Libraries in Europe 2

3. Ministry of Culture (Lead Organization) United Nations Development Programme (Implementing Agency) Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria Bulgarian Library and Information Association Glob@l Libraries in Bulgaria

4.  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? 4

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6. WHERE? 6

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8.  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 8

9. 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? 9

10. 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 10

11.  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 11

12. For the first 6 months of 2011 we can report… 12

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15.  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… 15

16. Increasing the added value of the Glob@l Libraries – Bulgaria network in providing access to electronic services and facilitating digital inclusion What do we offer? 16