Aneta Doncheva
Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”
E–mail: adoncheva@phls.uni-sofia.bg
Eli Popova
Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”
E–mail: e_popova@phls.uni-sofia.bg
Abstract: The publication summarises the results of a study conducted by the Department of Library and Information Studies and Cultural Policy (DLISCP) at the Sofia University on the topic of “Assessment of the information value of the websites of regional libraries in Bulgaria. Development of a recommended website model reflecting the performance of regional libraries.” Regional libraries (RLs) are seen as modern organisations, which need to increase the visibility of their capabilities in order to find partnerships and to demonstrate their real benefit to people and society. The websites (Internet pages) of RLs play a role in shaping public perceptions of their effectiveness and attitudes towards their activities and services. In the context of the Information Age, the adequate presentation of RLs in the virtual space is a prerequisite for the full use of their potential and for an objective assessment of their importance in addressing the challenges of the period. Within the framework of a thematic project, a survey of the state of the websites of the 27 RLs was carried out according to a system of indicators presented in a matrix. The websites of 12 public libraries in other European countries were also reviewed, following similar indicators. The collected and systematically organised data serve to assess the state of the websites of the Bulgarian RLs, as well as to compare the approaches to their construction with those in other European countries. The results of the surveys and the comparisons that were made serve as a basis for the development of a sample model for the information architecture of the Internet pages of RLs. The principles for its development focus on modern approaches to presenting the effectiveness of public libraries in the virtual space in an engaging manner.
Key words: regional libraries, public libraries, project, websites.
Rhetoric and Communications E-journal, Issue 32, January 2018, rhetoric.bg/, journal.rhetoric.bg, ISSN 1314-4464