american corner at sofia city library
DESCRIPTION
American Corners Meeting, Varna, 2009TRANSCRIPT
AMERICAN CORNERAT SOFIA CITY LIBRARYAC Meeting
Varna
2009
HISTORY2007 – THE FIRST OPENING
June 12 - American Children’s Corner opens in a small one-room place at the Sofia City Library
Starting our first programs - American Holidays program and Drama class
We have a larger place – the old restaurant area, and renovating it with the support of a few organizations
ST. VALENTINE DAY CRAFTS
HISTORY2008 – RENOVATION AND OPENING OF THE NEW PLACE
Continuing the renovation and turning the place into a multi-functional cultural space
April 23, 2008 – Opening the new American Corner
Combined library colections of the Children’s Corner and a the former American Studies Collection of the U.S. Embassy library
Enrich the library colection with new materials
Enrich the library programs
HISTORY 2009 – DEVELOPING AND PROGRESS
This year we manage to rise our visitors 2008 - 1,460 visitors June, 2009 – 1,850 visitors Over 2,500 persons came to the Corner as
participants at events in January – June 2009
OUR GOALS
Provide current and reliable information about the U.S. to Bulgarians
Make information about the U.S. available to all citizens
Promote cultural conections between U.S. and Bulgaria
Become a model for Bulgarian public libraries, using the experience of the American libraries
THE GOALS ARE REALIZED THROUGH Providing a high level reference service based
on : a good Americana collection; access to the Internet recources; a closely collaboration with the IRC of
American Embassy Free access to the library collection, Internet
and events Varied programs designed for people of all
ages Speaker programs, Presentations, Exhibitions
and Workshops organized by the U.S. Embassy Hosting cultural and educational programs of
other America-related organizations
OUR PROGRAMS ARE DESIGEND TO:
Combine learning, amussement, and often competition
Respond the needs of our users Contain knowledge about the U.S.A.
OUR SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS:PROGRAM AMERICAN HOLIDAYS
Includes: Thanksgiving party, Halloween party,
Mother’s Day Tea party Christmas crafts, St. Valentine crafts Columbus Day competition, Arbor Day
gardeningAnd a number of initiatives connected with
special days and months like: an African American Month exhibition and
Essay contest Native American Month event Earth Day contest Presidents Day exhibition and event
THE COLUMBUS DAY COMPETITION
THE HALLOWEEN PARTY
OUR SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS: SUMMER READING PROGRAM
A traditional program at American libraries Always has Start, Final and Awards Includes: reading a longer time about one theme; participating in events and activities in
conection in this theme; wining awards for going to Final
SRP’2008
Theme : American Indians – 20 hours reading for a month
Participants : 35, age 7-14 Events: Drawing on T-shurts, Studying the
Indian Sign Language, Making Tipi, Traditional Indian Food Competition
Finalists : 15 New patrons for the library : 10
SRP’2008
SRP’2009
Theme : Space – 30 hours reading for 45 days
Participants : 52, age 7 – 18 Events: Movies, Reading groups, Drawing
‘’Space Fashion’’, Creative writing, Playing games, and participating at the word wide project of NASA and Lockheed Martin ‘’Students signatures in Space’’
Finalists: 30 New patrones for the library: 36
SRP’2009 ‘’STUDENTS SIGNATURES IN SPACE’’
A READING GROUP DURING SRP’2009
THE ‘’SPACE FASHION’’ DRAWING
OUR SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMSJOURNALISM WORKSHOPS /2009/
Organized in colaboration with the Bulgarian NGO ‘’St. Ioan Rilsky’’
Includes journalistic writing training for young middle and high school press-men
Themes: Martin Luter King Jr. The Americans Eugene Schuyler and
Januarius MacGahan in Bulgarian history McGahan festival at New Lexington My Space Dream creative writing Participants: 25, age 12-18
SKYPE MEETING WITH PARTICIPANTS OF MCGAHAN FESTIVAL AT NEW LEXINGTON
MY SPACE DREAM CREATIVE WRITING
OUR SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS:COMPUTER AND INTERNET LITERACY FOR SENIORS CITIZENS /2009/
This is a Tutoring program designed especialy for older generations, that are the least likely to use computer technology, but like to benefit from the possibilities to communicate better with other people
Includes: Work with Microsoft Word, Search information by Google, Communicate by e-mail
Participants: 15, age over 60 Frequency: once a week
OUR SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS:TEACHING THROUGH THE THEATRE
This program is based on the proposition that children study better playing theatre
Includes: A one-year Drama class /2007-2008/ A Theatre project ‘’The heroes of Mark Twain
and Lyman Frank Baum’’ realized in partnership with two primary schools /2009/
A three-weeks Theatre workshop /2009/ ‘’A Most Extraordinary Tale’’by bulgarian writer Kina Kudreva
THE THEATRE PROJECT ‘’THE HEROES OF MARK TWAIN AND LYMAN FRANK BAUM’’
THE THEATRE PROJECT ‘’THE HEROES OF MARK TWAIN AND LYMAN FRANK BAUM’’
OUR SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS:REGULAR ENGLISH CONVERSATION GROUPS /2009/
Designed for three groups : age 7 – 12, Teens Adults Frequency: once a week
THE CONVERSATION ENGLISH GROUP FOR ADULTS
OUR CALENDAR OF EVENTS INCLUDES ALSO:
Book discussions Video projections Presentation of American books translated
into Bulgarian Speaker programs Exhibitions Art workshops Concerts
A BOOK DISCUSSION 2008
A BOOK DISCUSSION 2009
AN EXHIBITION OF MICHELLE HILL – A FULBRIGHTER
WORKSHOP WITH SEGAL BUSEL
VOLUNTEERS
Our programs are leaded mainly by volunteers
Everyone who wants to volunteer at the American Corner apply with Volunteer job application
Our volunteers are teachers, students from high school and university students, Fulbrighters, members of nonprofit organizations, young people lived abroad, retired people
THE AMERICAN CORNER HOSTED
American Council for International Education Youth Exchange and Study Program testing days
American Chamber of Commerce for presentations
Elizabeth Kostova Foundation for book presentations
The Open Society Institute The Students' Diplomatic Club The Bulgarian Association of University WomenWe host events that correspond to our goals and
present USA and American-Bulgarian relationships to the public
