A UNDP project for modernizing the access to books

Friendly libraries for all citizens
 

The typical idea of a library in this country is a small, quiet and boring place, with tones of dust that has been falling on the books, the furniture and the old photo frames standing on the unpainted walls for years. Fortunately, this stereotype was abandoned in the middle of May on entering the city library “Braka Miladiniovci” in Radovis, as well as the libraries “Blagoj Jankov Muceto” in Strumica and “Fetkin” in Kavadarci, where the UNDP project “Friendly libraries for all citizens” is being realized.

As of Radovish, this municipality public library, built 50 years ago, is completely renovated. It is entered through a modern entrance, with stairs and an access ramp. Its interior working space has been enlarged from 200 to 340 square meters and filled with a lot of light, tastefully selected furniture, with new and old books. All three libraries are equipped with new computers, with access to the internet, a scanner, printer, photocopier, TV, DVD, music system, LCD projector and other pieces of technical equipment, and one can also rent toys!

“The web-site of our library has been accessible for a month now (www.bibliotekaradovish.org.mk)”, says the librarian Ivanka Sokolova, who opens parts of the page which is gradually loaded with new data. The two other abovementioned libraries also have web-sites, and all the three work following a new, open concept which attracts more readers and more users of the internet and computer services. “The number of visitors of all ages has increased. Since January, we have had 484 members, and annually, the library is visited by about 1500 to 2000 citizens. The number of visitors of Turkish nationality has doubled due to the increased number of books in Turkish and the possibility to search for the information they need on the internet.

“About 20 to 30 people come regularly to read the daily papers”, says Sokolova.

 

Multifunctional civic information centers

 

The necessary construction and conceptual changes done in the libraries have enabled them to grow into multifunctional civic information centers, financed by the Norwegian Kingdom. The services libraries offer have identical prices. The annual membership fee is 200 denars and the family package for two members of the same family is 300 denars. The printed informative material offers information on prices at a price list, which also includes the prices for photocopying, printing, scanning, internet services, for help when using the services, for renting equipment, organizing events, etc. The use of the reading room and the children’s room is free and the readers can extend the time of using or reserve certain titles via phone or e-mail. “The new working concept enables us to make some income, which is then use for further development of the library. So far, the library has hosted several presentations, workshops, seminars and educational activities”, says the librarian Sokolova. According to her, there is a growing interest for reading books in Macedonian and by Macedonian authors.

The exhibition of printed materials, photographs and costumes of the opera singer Milka Eftimova has been set at the library. Her work, together with the works of other local authors is registered as a special library content.

 

The Municipality of Jegunovce is soon to get a library

 

The project “Friendly library for all citizens” started in July 2005, when we paid the first visits and estimations of the condition of the 23 libraries, which, after the decentralization process have become the responsibility of the local government. Out of the 23 libraries, we chose the three in Radovish, Strumica and Kavadarci that have open access to the written and electronic information. The project is part of the decentralization programme and is an excellent opportunity sustainable development of the libraries”, says the UNDP project manager, Nina Sulovikj – Cvetkovska, mentioning that the stated municipalities have participated in the total amount of 450 000 dollars for all three libraries, with 10 000 dollars each. The municipality of Strumica has additionally renovated the roof and the facade of the building and Kavadarci has renovated the administrative offices.

During the renovation period, the library staff attended training courses for basic and advanced use of computers, a training course for revising the library fund, for updating the data, and the a special training course for digitalization of the library funds organized as part of the KOBIS project of the Ministry of Culture and the National University Library “Sv. Kliment Ohridski” from Skopje.

By the end of the year, which is when the project terminates, we will have organized training courses for improving the relationship between the librarians and the users of the services, for library marketing, for the ways of raising money to be used for functioning of the library, etc. Together with the opening of a new page in their history, the libraries also opened a competition for written essays on “Millennium development goals” and awarded the best authors with books.

In order to start the process of using the electronic libraries, UNDP has equipped the libraries with electronic editions which had been published in the country before, and donated books whose worth is estimated to 2 000 dollars. These things have been done so as to attract the adult readers as well.

“For the purpose of extending the project concept, we have also developed a so-called small package, which includes the libraries from the municipalities of Vinica, Kocani and Cair and whose staff is involved in the abovementioned training programme and the other contents of the project. We donated to the library of Cair books in Albanian worth 2 000 dollars, while the municipality of Vinica received computers and internet connection. The library in Kocani, where the municipality has offered to renovate the space following our concept, will get new furniture. These three municipalities should then continue to develop the offered concept of “Friendly libraries for all citizens” themselves, says Sulovikj – Cvetkovska.

The construction of a library in the village pf Preljubste (Municipality of Jegunovce) starts in May, with Norwegian financial support. The location for the building has been provided by the municipality authorities, who have also obliged themselves to employ two people. The project for this library will last until mid – 2008, and the library is to be finished by September, the same year.

Katerina Bogoeva