Over 60 librarians from 13 raions attended on May 20 the republican conference „Public Libraries Develop the Communities. The event’s goal was to highlight the best and most interesting examples of new library services, partnerships and library promotion methods.
The conference was organized by Orhei Raion Library in partnership with the Department of Culture. Nadejda Mocanu, manager of Partnership Department appreciated the fact that the representatives of Novateca National Program were invited as guests of honor.
The librarians shared their work experience with different groups of beneficiaries and emphasized the created partnerships between the library, public associations and LPA. Some librarians initiated separated services such as computer basics trainings for children, teenagers and adults; interest clubs, cultural activities, etc. Others preferred to implement a number of activities designed to reach a single goal.
An example to follow is Izbiste Public Library from Criuleni raion. Besides the fact that it’s managed by a man (something rarely encountered among librarians) all the planned activities have a single goal, namely to promote the Izbiste village. Alexandru Rusu’s speech was full of humor and examples of innovative activities such as photojournalism courses for local young people, filling in surveys, launching of a pictures fan club, data collection for writing and posting the village history online, writing articles for social networks and even administrate the town hall website. “We don’t only promote the library and the community but also make the fast connection between those working abroad and their relatives left behind. The parents have the possibility to see their children on YouTube videos posted by the library participating in different activities”, said Alexandru Rusu.
Many other successful stories from all over the country were presented at the conference and all librarians agreed that library plays a significant role in the community. “The present library goes through a complex transformation. Since joining Novateca network, libraries reoriented their vision, they became a multifunctional center, the binding of the community” said Elena Cebotari, the library director of Drujba Public Library from Ungheni.
The conference is one of the many activities dedicated to the Orhei Library Day which on May 24 will turn 114 years of existence. Thereby, Lidia Sitaru, the library director, highlighted the key role of this institution in a community mentioning that “the library is resistant and will continue to be if it reorients its activities towards people’s needs: small business development; development and preservation of cultural heritage; health education, etc”. The director hopes that as a result of this event the shared practices will generate transformations which will lead not only to quantitative but also qualitative changes in the society.
Pictures from the event can be seen on the following link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.811982305550028.1073741984.421512291263700&type=1