Through a joint Novateca-e-Government Center initiative, Moldovan public libraries and librarians are taking on new roles in promoting and providing access to online services.

With a training on 6 - 7 February at the National Library’s Center for Statistics and Research, 15 newly selected librarians were engaged in trainings on the use of e-government services, developing skills in accessing electronic platforms such as servicii.gov.md, and tools such as electronic signatures, MPass, MSign and MPay.

During the training and the follow-up workshop conducted throughout February, the new e-Ambassadors from Ocnita, Edinet, Donduseni, Riscani, Glodeni, Soldanesti, Singerei, Calarasi, Hincesti, Stefan Voda, Cimislia, Basarabeasca, ATU Gagauzia, Orhei, and Rezina raions became familiar with the e-Government offers and tools and learned about the benefits of online public services. Having as an assignment to access e-services individually at home, librarians got a better understanding of the process and came up with a compiled list of questions for the e-Government Center representatives, who provided first-hand expertise and clarifications.

To ensure a collaborative relationship and offer a better overview on the use of online public services, e-Ambassadors from previous rounds shared their experience and disseminated best practices in ensuring citizen access to e-services at the library. They also provided recommendations and useful hints on the delivery of trainings at the local level, and encouraged the new e-Ambassadors to promote the benefits of e-services within their communities.

The e-Ambassador network now covers every raion in the country and includes 43 librarians helping their library patrons with accessing the e-services and training other librarians in their raion to do the same.

Both individuals and business representatives can now visit public libraries to receive facilitated access to e-services to pay income taxes and utility bills, obtain a criminal record certificate or civil office documents, and find information to initiate small businesses in rural areas, saving both time and money.