The person who changed my life

Anelia Ivanova, Director of the Regional Library City of Montana

I don’t remember when I saw Snejana for the first time... I don’t remember when I last saw her... But I saw her in my dream before Christmas – it was a disturbing dream... Snejana Ianeva changed my professional choices, with her energy and her enviable professionalism she returned me to the libraries!

In 2005 I decided to leave the library in which I worked, but at that moment she and the project ABLE happened and that changed everything! During our joint work she motivated me even without suspecting it – to study more, to improve my knowledge of English, to work more and to continue to work in the library! I will always remember her when she came on a planned or unplanned visits to Montana, I remember her with serious and sometimes with amusing events.

I remember how we played football with the Embassy team at -7°C. I remember how we cried when the ceiling of the foyer fell 2 days before we had to meet the American Ambassador at our library; and how we laughed after that. I remember her at a hotel in Boston when she scolded at me that I was not being well organized. I remember her in our library when she came suddenly and at that moment we were trying to destroy a wasp nest with a water stream. I remember how we had to work with her accurately and precisely.

I remember her at the Global Forum when she was sitting quietly on a sofa because of her ill but restless legs. She was sitting quietly, but I saw her like a giant – a universe of energy, ideas and strength before the difficulties! When I went home I thought about her for a long time. We spoke over the phone. I thought that I had power to encourage her – why not...

Snejana is my inspiration, my example for a strong, logical and successful lady! And how she impressed me with her confidence, friendly behaviour, lack of vanity and the great range of her work and responsibilities! Sometimes I was secretly dreaming to be like her! Snejana to me is a legend in the life of the Bulgarian libraries! She created an era - a period, in which a lot of energy and a lot of successes gathered together and the vision about us in society was totally changed.

And now she is not among us. Even the most beautiful and brightest stars fade away, but the consolation exists that one evening watching the sky it will be very sad  but also very inspiring that I knew her… A low bow before her!

BBIA magazine online, 1 / 2020 In memoriam