photos by Valentin Croitoru

A partnership opportunity between Panitza Library and Goethe-Institut, the German cultural and language center, was raised to the administration, but is unlikely to be realized. The project was met with criticism from the beginning, as one of the conditions is that the library becomes fully accessible to residents of Blagoevgrad and the region, which may compromise its privacy and security.

The idea was initially proposed by one of the language professors at AUBG. A committee represented by AUBG language professors, Panitza Library Director Sophia Katsarska and Dean of Students Lydia Krise met to discuss the potential cooperation between the two institutions.

The proposed partnership is part of Goethe-Institut's mission to raise awareness about German culture and language. The Panitza Library would become a meeting and learning center for students of German, like many other institutions across Europe. In return, Goethe-Institut would provide methodical books for German-language professors at AUBG.

However, such books are not needed on campus because most of the 63 students currently studying German at AUBG are at the beginning level, Katsarska said. Right now there are more than 700 volumes of German literature and the library budget can afford even more. The administration is also averse to the prospect of Panitza Library becoming public, she explained.

Currently, the library is open to anybody who wants to read there, but book leasing has been reserved exclusively to AUBG students. "So far we have maintained an open society to the degree that anybody can take advantage of our library - people from Blagoevgrad have been coming and reading here. However, if people from [all over the region] start gathering here, the place would become overcrowded. There is already barely enough room for our students," Katsarska said. Despite the library security, no one can fully guarantee the safety of the books, she added.

"I do not use the library often, but this is not a public library. We have a fast and convenient system allowing us to lease books quickly and easily. Try leasing research materials from a Bulgarian public library in less than 30 minutes. Plus, if this was to happen, Panitza Library would have to change the registration mechanism to accommodate strangers," commented junior Tsenislav Tsenov, who is skeptical to the possibility of a public library.

"I prefer that the library stays as it is. Sometimes there isn't enough room for everybody to get a desk and study. What will happen if anybody entered at all times? Imagine finals week," junior Georgi Vachkov said.

Comments

nicepic

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Hot chick in the Library at 12 o'clock-nice :D

Friday 26 February 2010, 08:26

John Public

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This is by far the lamest story you published by now. It's like me saying: We should bring The Black Eyed Peas to AUBG. WHat will be Flash News's headline? Black Eyed Peas Concert at AUBG remains unlikely, although some student raised the issue. Jeez you people are really out of stories.

Monday 22 February 2010, 18:57

Sophia

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I think the story is interesting and shows different veiws on the issue. I personally did not know before that the library is open to public. However, it is a good idea for the citizens of Blago to use it only during the summer whrn there are no AUBG students.
I hope that a partnership between Panitza Library and Goethe-Institut will be founded.

Tuesday 23 February 2010, 11:05

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