Mikhalaki Georgiev Regional Library

Address: Vidin, 1 Bdintsi Sq., tel.: 094 / 22673; 094 / 22154

Manager: Ms. Todorka Vladimirova Doncheva, tel.: 094/ 22673

The library is the successor of the library established in 1870 when the Russian Consulate donated 174 books that have been preserved until today.

Initially, the library was located in the Vida Theater; after the Liberation, it was moved to Antim I High School.

The first paid curator was assigned in 1925. The first attempts to make a catalog of the books were in 1953.

On April 1, 1059, following the adoption of the new administrative division of the country, the library became County Methodological Library. Differentiated services to readers date back to the same year.

In 1965, the readers got free access and an independent children’s section was established.

Despite the fact the library was located in two separate buildings, its activities expanded. In 1989, the library team was awarded Cyril and Methodius Order, I Grade.

In 1991, some of the premises of the former communist party headquarters were given to the library. Now all departments are located in one building. This also allowed for the expansion of the reading-room activities. The following reading-rooms are functional at present: humanitarian sciences; exact and applied sciences; periodicals; art and music; chidren’s reading-room, all totalling 70 seats.

Today the library is the largest generally accessible scientific library within the Vidin Region.

Library functions

The Mikhalaki Georgiev Regional Library is the largest and the only library information center within the Vidin Region. It has developed different activities and is working with 70 community center and school libraries in the region. The library is engaged in publishing and keeps an archive of local and national newspapers and magazines.

Organizational structure:

Supplies, Processing and Catalogues Department  - supplies, processes and lists in catalogues all library materials.

Maintains a catalogue system.

Staff – two experts.

Service Department

books on Loan – registers and serves readers aged 14 and over. Engaged in bibliographic and consulting activities. Lends books on request by other libraries, nationally and internationally. The department has a foreign language section: books, textbooks, teaching materials, audio and video tapes in English, German and French. The library materials are lent for home use and are tracked in separate registers. Staff – four experts.

Exacty and Applied Sciences Reading-Room – provides to all categories of readers materials from the areas of natural, technical, medical and agricultural sciences.

Staff –  one expert.

Periodicals Reading-Room – keeps copies of all periodicals. Staff – one expert.

Children’s Section and Reading-Room – serves readers aged less than 14.

Staff – two experts.

Art Department – provides library documents on all types of art. Has a rich collection of records, sheet music, audio and video tapes, etc.

Staff – one expert.

Bibliographic References and Local History Department

The bibliographic reference section provides references, information and publishing.

The local history section collects and preserves the printed history of, and for, the region. Its collection is unique.

Staff – three experts.

Methodological Department – the department has a large amoung of scientific materials. It provides assiatance to all libraries within the region, regardless of their subordination.

Library funds

The library keeps a total of 278,705 library documents. Information about them is entered on card catalogues and in electronic format.

190,553 library units are available for home use by adults. These are systematically arranged in alphabetical order in two halls and a book vault.

9,095 library units are available for reading-room use. The books are 5,813 and are ket in the reading-room premises. The periodicals are 3,282 and are mostly kept in a book vault. Current periodicals are available in the reading-room.

43,197 library units are available for use by children. These are arranged alphabetically. Besides books, they include periodicals, records and games.

11,096 library units are available at the Art Department: books, periodicals, sheet music, records, maps, audio and video tapes, slides, microfilms.

The reference section has 4,519 library units and the local history section – 1,643 library units.

The rare and precious books fund includes 2,142 library units. These are kept in book vaults and are available for reading-room use. The oldest book was printed in Belgrade in 1835.

Access for readers

The library business hours are 9.00 to 18.00.

Saturdays -  9.00 to 13.00. Closed on Sundays.

Services offered by the library

- use of printed and non-printed materials

- use of inter-library and internationally loaned materials

- information services for companies from the region

- bibliographic and information services

- bibliographic information referebces – written and topical

- current bibliographical information

- xerox

Projects in which the library is involved

- Support to Periodical Publications on Culture Project, Soros Art Center

- Poushkin Library Megaproject, Stage II, Open Society Foundation

- Educational Project, Ministry of Education, Austria

- Everyman Millenium Library, British Council