Readiness of Bulgarian public libraries for digital transformation

In the study, the data on implementation of new digital technologies into Bulgarian regional libraries and their preparedness for digital transformation (DT) are analyzed. For this purpose, the set of indicators formed the foundation for the model of periodic monitoring of DT development degree. The study was conducted during July and August 2024 among 27 regional libraries in Bulgaria. The interest in this topic is driven by the ongoing process of modernization across various organizations, including libraries, and influenced by the rapid advancement of information and communication technologies (ICT) and the formation of a new intelligent information society (IIS). Today, the digital transformation is viewed as the final stage of integrating ICT into organisational structures and processes, which, in its turn, drives to significant changes in individual organizational subsystems or the organization as a whole. Thus, it could be argued that the achieved level of DT corresponds to the degree of engagement with the IIS. Besides, the issues related to DT and adaptation to IIS are crucial for understanding the prevailing social, societal and economic processes. Currently, there is a lack of specific data on the implementation and the effects of DT in organizations, particularly libraries.