THE REGIONAL LIBRARIES WEBSITES - ENTRANCES TO THE VARIOUS KNOWLEDGE OF ALL

Abstract

The aim of this study is to track the opportunities for access to library documents and services leading to the acquisition of knowledge through the websites of regional libraries (RL) in the Republic of Bulgaria. The article presents the results of the review of RL websites, made in February 2022 according to selected criteria relevant to the objectives of the study. The methodology used includes selection of basic international documents regulating the responsibilities of public libraries and purposeful study of their websites. The object of the study are the regional libraries - leading public libraries in the country, organized on a territorial basis by district, with responsibilities for providing library and information services for the entire population in the region. The results of the research are described in the article and presented in a table, which indicates what is available and what is missing in the respective library links to the resources – bibliographic and full-text information. The study established the expansion of access to sources of knowledge through the regional libraries websites. In the last few years, a large part of the RL have been updating their websites to satisfy users needs, facilitate navigation and have higher information value.
At the beginning of the third decade of the 21st century public libraries are improving their capacity to disseminate information and knowledge to the general public. The RL websites become portals to the knowledge collected and stored in them on various media.
To improve access to knowledge it would be good to find a balance between standardizing headings and a creative approach to structuring websites. The adoption of clear and unambiguous sections titles leading to the same information would lead to more efficient search of the required information and successful orientation and use of their services.
The trainings in the new competencies related to the development of the information society, which are held in public libraries, support the real and active inclusion of people in the digital world, develop access to information and sources of knowledge, help introduce knowledge in their daily activities and for their full participation in solving modern challenges. That is why training initiatives were discussed in the study.