After the end of the two-year project Legislative Framework for Libraries and Information Services in Bulgaria which was supported by the Ministry of Culture, the British Council in partnership with the Union of Librarians and Information Services Officers has begun a new project – Knowledge Institution Leadership.

This is a one-year project that will offer the directors of the public libraries and other knowledge institutions a contemporary outlook on library management, and an understanding of UK good practices in turning libraries into hubs for access to information, self – development and life – long learning.

The project’s main aim is to deliver training for the directors of medium – sized libraries on the following topics:

			Contemporary tendencies in public library development in the information society. Innovative practices – examples from the UK.
			Contemporary methods for management of information resources, library staff, budgets and projects. Team work, motivating staff.
			Working with local authorities. Partnerships between libraries, the media and other local organisations. Advocacy, lobbying and fundraising.
			Strategic planning. Library efficiency and activity assessment criteria. Library standards.

The components of the project are:

			Training the trainers carried out by UK expert
			Seminars throughout the country aimed at directors of medium – sized public libraries, including chitalishte libraries
			Publishing of a Handbook for the Contemporary Library Manager
			Study tour for three trainers to UK to get acquainted with the good practices in the library system

For more information please contact Tzvetanka Panova, Partnership Projects Manager