Abstract:

Being specific social institutions, contemporary Bulgarian regional libraries are an inseparable part of society and social development. One of their basic functions is namely the social one. It’s linked to the activities aimed at a particular community, society, the human. According to the normative regulations in Bulgaria, the functions of the regional libraries in Bulgaria include: gathering, preserving, processing, organizing and providing a library collection for use; providing library and information service; coordinating the organization on the local territory; organizing and holding cultural and educational initiatives; developing and participating in programs and projects; assisting the municipal administration when implementing the cultural policy in the field of library activities, etc.

The capacity of the library environment to facilitate the processes related to the successful and optimal inclusion of disadvantaged people have not yet been fully applied in practice in Bulgaria. Similar practices in many other countries have led to serious results as far as inclusion is concerned. Regional libraries in Bulgaria have the potential and capacity to assist in carrying out social and cultural integration of all members of society. Through cooperation with other institutions they can help the processes related to social inclusion of disadvantaged people.

The aim of the current paper is to present part of the initiatives in Bulgarian regional libraries related to social and cultural integration of disadvantaged people. According to the results received, the consistent organization of such events and the active standpoint of the librarian community in Bulgaria would contribute to the libraries being considered full-right participants in socially significant processes in Bulgaria.

Keywords:

Bulgaria, regional libraries, social and cultural integration, disadvantaged people.