A CHRONICLE

A CHRONICLE

Top of page	1996
January	By government decree №19 dated 31 January 1996 “Sava Dobroplodni” Universal Scientific Library got the statute of a regional library and became an independent corporate body, subordinated to the Ministry of culture, in fact it became a regional institution of National significance. By that decree it could exercise methodical and coordinating functions over libraries of former Sliven region.
January	Machines for binding were bought.
January	Reprographic department was differentiated.
January	A local computer network with 8 working places and software for automation of basic library processes, worked up by “Apis” company functioned in the library. The library became a user of the full text file “Laws”.
January 12	The library got a free Internet access and 3 computers as a donation by the Technical University of Tornheim /Norway/ as a result of the “Sliven-Tornheim” project.
January 19	Two days seminar of the British council on topic “Training in culture and customs of English speaking people” was organized in the library.
February	The library became a subordinated to the Ministry of culture institution.
February	Metropolitan bishop Joanikii donated to the library 10 volumes of his book “Messages, speeches and sermons”.
April	“Stefan Chirpanliev” bio-bibliography was published. Compilers: Rositsa Petrova- Vasileva, Galia Cholakova, Katia Siveva. It was published by the financial help of „Agromachine impex Ltd.” -Sliven, Sliven forestry and Kipilovo forestry, United Bulgarian Bank – branch Sliven, Union of Technique and Science - Yambol.
April	Lighting of the registration department and depositories was renovated.
April	The library announced a literature competition “The book” and a competition for drawing “Favourite characters from children’s books” on occasion of 24 of May-the Day of Slavic literature and culture.
July	Library’s accountants department was differentiated.
September	“Dimitar Dobrovich” symposium illustrated with the best drawings of the painter was published in cooperation with Art Gallery –Sliven and High school of arts in Sliven.
November 14	A jubilee meeting on occasion 60 anniversary of the writer Stefan Chirpanliev was organized in the library cooperation with the Cultural Figures Club. The jubilee bibliography published for the jubilee was presented.
December 10	A premiere of Angel Grozdanov’s book “A chronicle of literature competitions and prizes” was organized in one of the reading-rooms of the library. The book was presented by the research worker Maria Gareva – a directress of “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” National Library’s publishing house.
Top of page	1997
January	“Sliven poets and writers’ club-friends of the library” was established. All writers were register to use library’s services free.
January	The library started placing at readers’ disposal Internet services- seeking information in the Internet and “register an e-mail account”.
February	Books of Sliven writers for 1996 were presented in the library’s reading-room.
March	A bio-bibliography “Dobri Chintulov” was published by the financial help of “Open society” club-Sliven. It was a part of the series “Eminent writers of the Bulgarian national revival”. Compilers: Rositsa Petrova- Vasileva, Galia Cholakova, Katia Siveva, Joanna Dimitrova.
April	A new copying machine “Xerox” was bought for the children’s department.
April	More than 20 classes “In the magic world of fairy-tales” were organized for students of primary Sliven schools.
May	“70 years –Cultural Figures Club” bibliography was published on the occasion of 70 anniversary of the Club in Sliven.
June 1	Children’s day was celebrated with an exhibition of children’s drawings and a concert in the library’s yard with the participation of children from “Zvezditsa” kindergarten.
June 2	A meeting was organized with the young Sliven poetess Iveta Danailova.
June 23	The library organized in cooperation with the Cultural Figures Club a presentation of Ivan Rusev’s book “Companies and draperies in Sliven and Kotel regions during the Bulgarian revival”.
1 ноември	The library was a co-organizer of the scientific conference on topic: “Jovkov and our time” with director of studies Ivan Sarandev.
November 27	A meeting dedicated to the 175 years of Dobri Chintulov’s birht was organized by the library and the Cultural Figures Club. The research worker Maria Gareva – a directress of “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” National Library’s publishing house presented the bibliography of the eminent writer of the Bulgarian revival published by the library.
December 4	A symposium of reports from a Jubilee scientific conference “Public health services in Sliven – past, present, future” was published. Compilers: Rositsa Petrova and Marianna Nedeva.
Top of page	1998
February 19-20	The library organized an exhibition “Modern British writers and poets” in cooperation with British council-Sofia. Edward Richards –a director of English language training projects at the British council and Lily Rounevska – a head of the informative department of the British council- Sofia attended the opening of the exhibition.
February 20	A concert with readings “The liberation and the national self-consciousness”, dedicated to the Russian-Soviet war of liberation was organized by the library in cooperation with the Cultural Figures Club.
March 1	A charity exhibition “Martenitsi” was organized in the children’s department. Books for children were bought with the money collected form the martenitsi sale.
March 5	Books of Sliven writers for 1997 were presented in the library in cooperation with the Cultural Figures Club.
March 17	The library in cooperation with the Cultural Figures Club organized a premiere of Stefan Chirpanliev’s book “Intelligentsia...” with the participation of the literature critic Dimitar Bechev.
April 2-30	Classes “In the fairy world of Andersen” were organized for students from primary schools in Sliven.
May 7 - 8	“Sava Dobroplodni” Regional Llibrary in cooperation with the Ministry of culture organized a seminar on topic: “Programs of the European Union in the field of culture. Training and management of projects”. В семинара вземат участие Maria Rousinova – a vice-minister of culture, Antoaneta Ginina – “Libraries” department of the Ministry of culture, Rada Sharlandjieva –a counsellor in cultural politics at the Council of Europa, Margarita Kaisheva – a representative of NMCR for Bulgaria, Jrji Dusik – an international expert from the Centre of public activities in Pilsen /Czech republic/, Christopher Wardle – an international consultant from INTRAC Company /Great Britain/, Emilia Lisichkova – a coordinator of Program for Development of the United Nations project- BUL /97/008.
May 8	Regional Libraries’ Association- a non-profit organization- was found in Sliven. Rositsa Petrova was chosen a chairwoman of the association.
May 21	The directress of the library Mrs. Rositsa Petrova was awarded a diploma by the Minister of culture for achievements in the development of Bulgarian culture in honour of May 24– the Day of Bulgarian literature and culture and the Slavic literature.
July	The American “Sabre” foundation by “Open society” club in Sliven donated 109 books of medicine, technique and economics in English to the library.
August	The library got a donation of 199 records of classical music by the help of Mr. Roger Taylor –a president of the International Association of musical libraries, archives and documentary centers in Great Britain and “Libraries and books” fund at “Open society” foundation-Sofia.
December	“Melinvest” foundation donated 213 000 levs to the library for paying the subscription to periodicals of the library.
December	Two computers were bought.
Top of page	1999
January	The centre, helping English learning process was moved to a new room.
January	A new local area network was worked up. 4 new computers were bought.
February 3	Anton Donchev’s book “Legends for the two treasures” was presented by professor Andrej Pantev and the literature critic Ivan Granitski in one of the library’s reading-rooms.
February 25	An Organizing committee for carrying out the I National Children’s Book Festival was formed.
March 5	The library and the co-organizers of the I National Children’s Book Festival announced a national literature competition on topic “The book” and a competition for drawings “Favourite characters from children’s books”.
March 7	A meeting of the Bulgarian Regional Libraries Association was held in the library on which a project for a decree for the statute and the financing of regional libraries was discussed.
April	The library proceeded to “vicarious budget” a by a resolution of the Municipal council of Sliven.
April	“In the magic world of fairy-tales” classes dedicated to Alexander Pushkin’s work were organized in the library for students from primary schools in Sliven.
April	The American “Darien book aid plan Inc.” foundation donated 200 books in English from modern American writers.
May 24	The directress of the library Mrs. Rositsa Petrova was awarded a diploma by the Minister of culture for achievements in the development of Bulgarian culture in honour of May 24– the Day of Bulgarian literature and culture and the Slavic literature.
May 25-28	National Children’s Book Festival took place in Sliven for the first time in Bulgaria. “Sava Dobroplodni” Regional Library is the main organizer of the event. Other co-organizers are: the Ministry of culture, National book centre at the Ministry of culture, the Bulgarian Regional Libraries Association, Bulgarian Association of book publishers, Sliven Municipality. The program of the events included: Opening an exhibition “Masters of illustrations of children’s books” – with exhibits from the National Art Gallery, the National army’s club and the Art Gallery –Sirak Skitnik; a round table on topic “Children’s books -publishing, dissemination, reading”; a performance “In the magic world of Pushkin’s fairy-tales”; a premiere of the book “Cut, cut, moon” – a medley of funny games for children, published by the Festival’s resources; report of the results of the National literature competition “The book” and a competition for drawings “Favourite characters from children’s books”; celebration of the 20 anniversary of the literature classes of the poetess Evgenia Genova at the “Misho Todorov” United school of arts; a carnival, a concert, book bazaars of “Egmont Bulgaria”, “Hermes”, “Fjut”, “Pan”, “Prozorets” and “Slantse” publishing houses. Guests of the festival were: Maria Rousinova-a vice-minister of culture, Antoaneta Ginina- a head of “Libraries” department at the Ministry of culture, Penjo Semkov- a governor of Sliven region, Eva Jecheva – a deputy, publishers, writers and Bulgarian library specialists.
June	The directress of the library Rositsa Petrova was elected to the National book council at the Ministry of culture.
June	The representatives of the International ISBN Agency Mr. David Kingham /Great Britain/ and Mr. Hartmuth Valravens /Germany/ visited the library.
July	“Public health services in Sliven from the National revival to nowadays” bibliography was published by the library in cooperation with the Union of scientists- branch Sliven, the Medical section.
July	“A training of library specialists and readers in work with the new information technologies for electronic documentation /CD-ROM and Internet/” project sponsored by the Euro-Bulgarian fund for development of arts and “PHARE” program BG 9606 started.
October	The first stage of the project “Training of library specialists and readers in work with the new information technologies for electronic documentation /CD-ROM, Internet/” which was implemented in the library ended. The results of the project were 6 newly bought computers for Internet access in the centre, helping English learning process.
October 22	A regional meeting on the problems of the community centers’ and school libraries was held in cooperation with the Regional inspectorate of the Ministry of education and science and the Regional Libraries’ Association.
October	Celebration of the 60 anniversary of the poetess Evgenia Genova was organized in the library in cooperation with the Cultural Figures Club. The bio-bibliography of the poetess published by the library was presented.
November 10	The library got a donation – the series “The Millennium Library Everyman” - 250 books of classics in English or translated into English and 6 complete sets of data. Resources for the donation were supplied by консорциум “Millennium” consortium, “Everyman” publishing house, charity organizations and the British Council
November 24	A project for training of representatives of ethnical groups of the region in new informative technologies started in the electronic reading-room of the library. It was sponsored by the American “Charles Stuart Mott” foundation by “Open society”-Sliven. A partner in the project was “Women for charity Roma” foundation.
December 2	Ilia Kalov- an heir of the famous Kalovs family of industrials donated 245 books in English, French, German and Italian and 46 periodicals published until 1944.
Top of page	2000
February	An Organizing committee for celebrating the 45anniversary of the library under the aegis of the Minister of culture Ms. Emma Moscova was formed. A chairman of the committee was the mayor of Sliven Mr. Asen Gagauzov.
February	Ilia Kalov donated books in English, German and French to the library for the second time.
March	The British council-Sofia donated 1000 £ to the centre, helping English learning process for buying books in English.
March	The security system of the library was renovated. The reading-rooms were repaired.
April 10 –May 10	A project for “An integration of gypsy children by non-traditional methods for creating interest in books and reading” sponsored by “Charles Stuart Mott” foundation /U.S.A./ by “Open society” - Sliven.
April	A new informative service was placed at readers’ disposal in the centre, helping English learning process-an access to the ЕBSCO publishing data as a result of a joint project of “Open society” Institute– Budapest.
May 9-11	The II National Children’s Book Festival and jubilee celebrations for the 45 anniversary of the library took place in Sliven. The events were carried out under the sign of 110 anniversary of the famous fairy tales writer Konstantin Konstantinov.
	The program included: A scientific conference concerning the life and work of Konstantin Konstantinov;An art-documentary exhibition of issues from the State archives, “Sava Dobroplodni” Regional Library and the Art Gallery-Sliven concerning Konstantin Konstantinov; a final seminar “An integration of gypsy children by non-traditional methods for creating interest in books and reading” project; meetings with the writers Stefan Chirpanliev, Petya Alexandrova and Nikolai Milchev; performances; competitions, a carnival; concerts. A guest of the Festival was the Minister of culture Ms. Emma Moskova. The President of Bulgaria Mr. Petar Stoyanov posted a greeting speech to the staff of the library.
May 11	The Minister of culture Ms. Emma Moskova visited the library and got to know the library’s activity and equipment. Проведена е и среща с директори на регионални библиотеки от страната.
May 9-10	The library organized a Scientific conference dedicated to the 110 anniversary of Konstantin Konstantinov in cooperation with the Bulgarian Academy of Science /the Institute for literature/. The bibliography of the writer published by the library was presented.
June	The library was awarded the National “Hristo G.Danov-2000” prize – for achievements in the development of the Bulgarian literary culture in section “Presentation of Bulgarian books”. The prize consisted of a sculpture, a diploma and 2500 levs.
June	Computers and a new software /CDS/ISIS for WINDOWS/ were bought.
July	By the Act for protection and development of Bulgarian culture and Government decree 153/dated July 28, 2000 the library became a regional one for Sliven and Yambol regions.
August	“A symposium of reports from the Scientific conference dedicated to the 110 anniversary of Konstantin Konstantinov’s birth” was published.
October 25	An exhibition on occasion of the 200 anniversary of Dobri Jeliazkov’s birth was exposed at the library’s foyer. The firman of Sultan Mahmud II handed by him to Dobri Jeliazkov on February 4, 1836 by which the eminent citizen of Sliven was authorized to build the first textile factory in the Ottoman empire was presented to the Sliven citizens. The library made a colored copy of the firman for each visitor of the library. Nina Vutova- an assistant director of “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” National Library / where the original firman is kept/and a delegation from Tikirdag-the twin town of Sliven in Turkey attended the opening of the exhibition.
November 11	An artistic-documentary exhibition of documents of the library and the State archive-Sliven was exposed in the Large hall of the Capital’s library on occasion of 110 anniversary of Konstantin Konstantinov’s birth. More than 20 drawings of Konstantin Konstantinov’s sister– the painter Donka Konstantinova were also exposed.
December	An alphabetical and a classified catalogue of videocassettes were made.
Top of page	2001
January	An official catalogue of cartographic materials was made.
January 31