Novateca Program initiates a series of interviews that will be conducted with directors of district libraries, LPA representatives from the districts that were included in Novateca network.

During 2 weeks, we will publish interviews in which we shall report on obstacles and challenges that the directors of libraries overcame in partnership with mayors and librarians from selected communities.

The second interview is given by Ms. Lidia Sitaru, Director of the District Public Library “A. Donici” from Orhei, that got actively involved in the process of preparing the libraries from the district for joining Novateca network.

This is what she told us:

1. Libraries from Orhei district joined Novateca network during the program’s pilot phase. What do you think, why were you selected?

Lidia Sitaru: The desire to make radical changes in the libraries from our district was stirred in my working plans still since 1998, after I visited the public libraries from France, the Netherlands and Belgium. I was impressed with the outstanding working conditions the librarians had, the well-arranged spaces and innovative services that libraries offered to their users. This strong desire motivated me to start the procedure to join the Novateca network, which in 2012, was only starting its activity and was unknown to us. The changes in the library started by dismantling of the superfluous walls, we merged offices, we disposed of doubled publications and those that were not demanded by the users, thus we extended the space on the account of the unused.

We shared these ideas with the librarians in the network, inspiring their continuous desire to bring change to the libraries, to communities, to transform the public library into an Information Center, accessible for all members of the community, especially for those that lacked financial possibilities.

2. You ensured a high level of preparedness of local libraries. How did you manage it? What is the formula of Your success?

Lidia Sitaru: I believe that I still did not manage everything, but an ingredient of our success was the daily cooperation with the mayors, especially with those which, regretfully, have not yet realized the role and importance of the public library in the community. We also provided individual and group methodological assistance to village librarians. I think that the success formula is my dedication to what I do every day, especially when I see the results of my work. Though there were many impediments, I had mutual support from the trainers, also my professional image in the community mattered, which is, I believe, very important, especially for the local public authorities.

3. Looking back, should you apply to Novateca today, what would you do differently? What would you recommend and how would you encourage other districts to apply to Novateca?

Lidia Sitaru: There took place meetings with mayors, with librarians, during which we emphasized, by specific examples, the contribution of mayors and the activity of librarians, which already had accomplishments. We also organized study visits, both at local level, as well as at national level, to the libraries with achievements in the field. We inspired them to be confident, especially the retired librarians or librarians with no specific education, we urged them not to be afraid of changes, even if they failed.