1. Partnering for Community Change

2. What is IREX?  IREX is an international nonprofit organization providing leadership and innovative programs to improve the quality of education, strengthen independent media, and foster pluralistic civil society development in more than 100 countries. IREX oversees Global Libraries programs in Romania, Ukraine and Moldova

3. What is Biblionet? Biblionet is a six-year, 26.9 million dollar project implemented by IREX with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Equip more than 2,300 Romanian public libraries with technology so citizens have better access to information. Train over 3,000 librarians in how to use new technology to provide better services to library visitors, and develop new library services and advocacy skills. Establish 41 new training centers for librarians across the country. Assist the capacity of the National Association of Public Libraries and Librarians (ANBPR) to advocate on behalf of libraries Foster government and private sector support for the recognition of the essential role of libraries in a modern society. Afford citizens e-government services that they would otherwise be unable to access.

4. Where we started

5. Romania’s library heritage In 2008: the average age of collections 43 years

6. Romania’s library heritage In 2008: only 10 per cent of the population visited public libraries

7. Continuous challenges

8. CHALLENGES Financial squeeze Source: http://bit.ly/16FuI77

9. CHALLENGES Low capacity of librarians Source: http://bit.ly/164kqan

10. CHALLENGES Lack of experience with developing partnerships Source: http://bit.ly/1amE88Y

11. CHALLENGES Impact or “the big picture” Source: http://bit.ly/17G6buY

12. Digital divide = Development divide Source: http://bit.ly/14gauLf

13. Biblionet is a six-year, 26.9 million dollar project implemented by IREX with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Equip more than 2,300 Romanian public libraries with technology so citizens have better access to information. Train over 3,000 librarians in how to use new technology to provide better services to library visitors, and develop new library services and advocacy skills. Establish 41 new training centers for librarians across the country. Assist the capacity of the National Association of Public Libraries and Librarians (ANBPR) to advocate on behalf of libraries Foster government support for the recognition of the essential role of libraries in a modern society. Afford citizens e-government services that they would otherwise be unable to access. Internet use at home

14. Libraries as a partner for development Source: http://bit.ly/16FgvHb

15. How can libraries contribute?

16. Low cohesion funding absorption rates As of January, 2013, Romania absorbed only 14 % of the total funds allocated by the EU Public libraries access EU funding Public Libraries as a point of access for the broader community

17. Youth unemployment at 22 % No coherent national policy to combat the problem. Libraries take the lead, over the past 12 months: – 78,000 Romanians sought job seeking assistance – 28,500 applied for employment – 9,000 successfully secured a job Increasing unemployment

18. Over a three-year period: Over 90,000 farmers Received approximately 115 million Euros 200,000 working days saved Agricultural workers save 1,000,000 Euros in transportation and gasoline. Access to online farm subsidies

19. Financial literacy In 2013 through a partnership with Visa Europe: 980 public libraries participated 10,300 adult Romanians trained In 2014: 2000 libraries to participate

20. Telemedicine In 2013 through a partnership with GE: Pilot program in two counties 50 doctors trained to operate new EKG hardware

21. Human Interest E-fotografi@mea

22. Human Interest Digital storytelling

23. Human Interest Mommy loves you

24. Thank You