Every chitalishte is an independent legal entity and works under current law, said Prof. Ventsislav Velev, a university lecturer and member of the Public Council of the Union of Bulgarian Chitalishta. He spoke at a meeting of the Culture and Media Committee in parliament.

MPs today discussed the topic "Bulgarian chitalishta – state, problems and prospects for development". Velev said the issues around chitalishta fall into four groups: funding based on activity and benefit to society, checks on public money, public reporting, and public disclosure of funding.

The Community Cultural Centres Act is the oldest law in force in the field of culture, the professor recalled. He said it may not be perfect, but overall it is a good law, and changes to it were needed because of various circumstances. It has had two main versions so far, the latest from 2009.

Velev believes the law gives chitalishta very broad powers and that no other organisation has the capacity of the chitalishte institution. The text also says chitalishta receive money for the tasks assigned to them.

The register of chitalishta is published on the website of the Ministry of Culture.