P R O J E C T
Legislative framework for the libraries and
the library and information activities in Bulgaria

Supported by British Council - Sofia

Partners: British Council, Union of Librarians and Information Services Officers,
Ministry of Culture, National Library St. St. Cyril and Methodius

 

Background:
Bulgarian legislation is in a process of update and harmonisation with the legal framework of the European Union. Against the background of intensive adoption of new laws in various areas of activity, the update of the legislation concerning libraries and library and information services is lagging behind. Libraries are not a subject in the Bulgarian legislation. Bulgaria is the only country in Central and Eastern Europe that doesn’t have specialised library legislation. Another major issue is the fact that many of the newly adopted laws concerning libraries and their main activities do not protect the libraries and their funding – for instance, the Chitalishte Act, the National Culture Act, the Higher Education Act. A number of impediments are created by texts in the Accountancy Act, the VAT Act and the subordinate legal documents in which the specifics of the libraries is not taken into account. The Compulsory Deposition of Print and Other Materials Act adopted in 2002 also proved to have many imperfections that need correction.

The legislative documents from the 1980s are outdated in content and a big part are not valid since new laws in the respective areas were adopted in the meantime.

The lack of updated legislation becomes a hindrance to the development of the libraries - great part of them are with unclear position, they cannot decide on their own development and have no separate financing and management. These circumstances mean that libraries are in no position to fulfil their mission as educational, information and cultural institutions.

 

The project should be implemented in two stages:

1st stage:
(June – December 2006)

1.1. Research into the UK experience in the area of legislative regulations concerning libraries and library and information services. Identifying the directives and the recommendations of the European Union regarding the legislation concerning libraries and the library and information activities.

Group of library experts and lawyers

1.2. Analysing the current laws and legislation concerning libraries and the library and information activities. Expert evaluation by a leading UK specialist in the area.

Group of library experts, economists, lawyers and a UK expert

1.3. Developing a Programme for the types of legislative documents necessary for regulating libraries and library and information activities in Bulgaria. The programme should take into account the necessity of:

• Separate law for all libraries
• Suggestions for amendments in already existing laws
• Suggestions for subordinate legislative documents: rules, regulations, etc.

Group of library experts, economists, lawyers and a UK expert

1.4. Discussion of the Programme in the wider library society, the Ministry of Culture, the Culture Commission to the Parliament, the Association of Bulgaria Publishers.

 

2nd stage:
(January – December 2007)

2.1. Developing project law or laws, project texts of legislative documents, amending the texts of existing laws in accordance with the Programme adopted.

2.2. Discussion in the Commission of Culture at the National Assembly

2.2. Submitting the project laws in Parliament.