What do Swedish and Moldovan libraries have in common? As it turns out, quite a lot. Swedish library expert Inga Lunden visited Moldova recently in order to share her experience developing a progressive European law on libraries and promoting the key concepts of the modern public library and its role in the development of democratic society. The visit was organized by the Novateca program with support from the Swedish Embassy and the Moldovan Ministry of Culture as a part of the continued program to facilitate the transformation of Moldovan public libraries into vibrant community centers that promote socio-economic and cultural development.
During the visit, the Ms. Lunden participated in various meetings and workshops with representatives of the National Librarianship Council Commission in order to offer feedback and guidance in drafting the new library law currently being developed by a group of Moldovan library leaders and advocates in coordination with the Ministry of Culture.
The Swedish expert also met with the Minister of Culture, Monica Babuc and the vice-mister, Igor Sharov, as well as with representatives of the Ministry of Education. During the meeting with the Ministry of Culture, the two parties exchanged views on community development and the contribution of libraries to the country's socio-economic development and promoting democratic values. "Public libraries have become resources for information, education and communication for many communities where the Novateca program is implemented," said Monica Babuc during the meeting.
In her turn, Inga Lunden, appreciated the successes and the progress in the modernization of the public libraries of Moldova as well as the Ministry’s leadership and engagement in advocating for new library legislation that corresponds to the new library roles and EU standards. “The draft law we have been reviewing during my stay here looks very good and it could turn out to be one of the most modern Library Laws in Europe. The draft even contains elements that I wish we had in the Swedish Law,” mentioned Inga Lunden.
The visit culminated in the organization of a public dialog entitled “Library and the Community” that brought together library leaders and representatives of the civil society to discuss the best ways the libraries can support the communities, NGOs, activists, and other groups. The event aimed to explore the new roles of libraries and the ways libraries connect, draw on, and support their communities.
At the request of the Ministry of Culture, Ms. Lunden participated in various meetings and workshops with representatives of the National Librarianship Council Commission, offering feedback and general suggestions in drafting a new library law based on her experiences in the Swedish context.
She mentioned that Swedish librarians deal with the same issues and face similar challenges as those in Moldova. She stressed that the most prominent library service in Sweden remains the lending of the books. Nevertheless, she also underscored the idea that libraries must adopt, employ and give access to new technologies and the internet if they are to remain relevant and vital elements of society.
Furthermore, Ms. Lunden voiced that libraries have many other roles to fill; to be open meeting places for communities with modern services and accessible for all people. “Everyone is an expert in something. This is relevant for both librarians and users. Together, they can use their diverse competencies to add value to your library and your community.”
Another concern voiced by the audience at the public forum was that, with the advancement of new technologies, the book as well as libraries themselves could become obsolete. Ms. Lunden didn’t share this concern. “When television came they said the cinema was going to disappear. That didn’t happen! Similarly, books are not going to disappear but remain in the form that is most convenient for people.” Technology can be used to enhance and broaden the experience of the reader, she emphasized.
As a follow-up of this visit, a group of library leaders from the National Library, the Ministry of Culture, the Moldovan Librarians Association and raion libraries will visit the Stockholm public libraries in May, in order to draw on the best practices of Swedish libraries, meet with key figures in the library community, and examine how the Swedish library law is implemented in libraries of different types.
About Inga Lunden
Ms. Lunden served as the director of the Department of Culture of Stockholm, led the Stockholm Municipal Library for 15 years, and chaired the Swedish Library Association for five years while serving as board member of the International Federation of Library Association and Institutions. She has also served as an advisor to the Global Libraries program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was a key figure in the development of Sweden’s new law on libraries, and serves as a mentor for the International Network of Emerging Library Innovators Program (INELI-Balkans), which brings together eleven countries in the regional to share and advocate for modern library practices.
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