The first institutions of this kind emerged towards the end of the Ottoman era, in 1856 in the towns of Shumen, Lom and Svishtov. Later, the chitalishte became an important multi-purpose institution in villages and smaller towns.
The initial establishments of such kind appeared towards the end of the Ottoman era, in 1856 in the towns of Shumen, Lom and Svishtov. Subsequently, the chitalishte became a significant multi-functional institution in villages and smaller towns.