The Bulgarian Library and Information Association awarded Snejana Ianeva (posthumously) for her lifetime outstanding contributions to the development of libraries

On October 15, 2020, the Bulgarian Library and Information Association posthumously awarded Snejana Ianeva with the annual Lifetime Achievement award (2019) for her outstanding contributions to the development and modernization of Bulgarian libraries from 1990 until her untimely death at the end of 2019.

For the last 30 years, Ms. Ianeva has been working entirely as a volunteer for the development and prestige of Bulgarian libraries in our country, in Europe and in the world.

Since 2012, she was elected President of BBIA. Thirty years ago, she initiated the Global Libraries Program in Bulgaria and until her death she was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Global Libraries Bulgaria Foundation.

Award for lifetime achievement and contributions to the development of libraries

Snejana Ianeva, President of BLIA (2012 - 2019)

"There were no small and large libraries for her, no significant and insignificant libraries. Every library was a sacred place, it was like a room in her home, she took care of it... Every colleague had her phone. She was a person who did not refuse help to anyone ... What Sneja did for the people who use the libraries, she did it with heart and love .... "

Emilia Milkova-Stancheva, newly elected President of BLIA, member of Parliament

 

"Sneja has been working for the library community not since the time she was elected President of BLIA in 2012, but since 1990, on a voluntary basis, entirely without compensation... She generated many ideas and showed us how ideas become a reality. She worked for others. Furthermore, she never emphasized her contributions – something that is truly exceptional for our time. She left a unique mark on our association!”

Vanya Grashkina, Deputy Chairman of BBIA

“Constantly, throughout her life, Sneja created mostly trust ... She was an example of a selfless person, dedicated to her cause. She captured our hearts. "

Mihail Boyadzhiev, President of the Board of Global Libraries Foundation Bulgaria (FGLB)

"Snejana Ianeva was and remains an Apostle of the library work in Bulgaria ..."

Petko Kanevski, poet, director of the City Library in Dimitrovgrad

“Snejana is a legend in the life of Bulgarian libraries for me! She created an era, with a lot of energy and a lot of success and she completely changed the vision for us in society!”

Anelia Ivanova-Todorova, Director of the Regional Library, Montana

"A person who knew how to stand up for issues of principle and how to solve them…. She changed our libraries, she changed librarianship in Bulgaria…"

Julia Tsinzova, director of the Sofia Library

"I hope we all follow her example together ..."

Spaska Tarandova, Executive Director of FGLB

"A bright person, charged with the Revival spirit of our ancestors, who dedicated her life to the library in the new information age, to the book and to the word ... She put her whole heart and soul into her work and accepted it as a lifetime mission ... Thanks to her invaluable assistance, many Bulgarian institutes and specialists, many young people had the opportunity to exchange experiences and good practices with their colleagues around the world ... "

Amelia Gesheva, Deputy Minister of Culture

"She was tireless ... I always had her support"

Iskra Mihalova, Member of the European Parliament

"No one dies when there is someone to remember and love him. Mrs. Ianeva was a real pillar of librarianship and her name will be remembered and honoured in the future. "

Maria Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, European Commission

".... an exceptional person, who with her consistent and socially engaged work established herself as the engine of modern development of libraries in Bulgaria. Being an Ambassador of Libraries to The European Parliament, I highly appreciate the contributions of Snejana Ianeva as a leader in our country! The library community has lost a beautiful mind and a person devoted to her profession, Bulgaria has lost a worthy and dedicated guardian of our literary heritage.

Emil Radev, Member of the European Parliament, Ambassador of Libraries to the European Parliament