From March 23 to 27, 2026, a four-member team from the “P. R. Slaveykov” Regional Library – Veliko Tarnovo undertook a professional mobility visit to Asti, Italy, focused on exchanging best practices and job shadowing at the Giorgio Faletti Library.
During the visit, the participants learned about the organization of library operations, the institution’s management model, collection development, and the diverse services offered to users. They were particularly impressed by the work with children and youth, the specialized spaces for different age groups, and the library’s active participation in the cultural life of the local community.
Among the most interesting practices were the children’s section with resources adapted for children with reading difficulties, the Teen Zone, the mobile library serving communities without their own library facilities, and the “Adopt a Shelf” initiative, which encourages civic participation and support for the library.
The team also learned about the annual Passpartout cultural festival, which transforms Asti into a meeting place for writers, journalists, artists, and the general public. Of particular interest were the projects aimed at digitizing the local cultural heritage and the best practices for building sustainable relationships with the public.
A special highlight of the program was the meeting with Asti’s mayor, Maurizio Racerro. In a friendly atmosphere, they discussed opportunities for developing cultural cooperation between the sister cities of Asti and Veliko Tarnovo, as well as the importance of libraries as centers for culture, education, and community development.
The professional mobility program provided a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences, ideas, and inspiration. The participants returned with numerous best practices that can be adapted and implemented in the work of the “P. R. Slaveykov” Regional Library, for the benefit of its users and the local community.
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