On March 21st 2011, IREX has launched Round 3 of the Biblionet program.
All candidate libraries will receive a user name and a password in order to access their online application. Candidates can propose public libraries that fulfill all the minimum eligibility criteria, to become partners in the Biblionet program.

In order to become a part of the program, each library has to:

• To have broadband Internet connection at the library or the Local Council/library to be willing to install Internet no later than a month before receiving the equipment and at the same time to pay for projected expenses;
• To have the necessary space (approximately 2,5 m2 per desk) for housing the equipment, space that is also adequate for activities with/for public: appropriate furniture, functional heating and electric systems and to ensure the security of the space (guard/video surveillance/metallic doors/alarm)
• Through the Local Council is willing to sign an insurance policy for the equipment, to cover related costs of the library’s utilities, where this type of service will be offered; to allow and to financially support the librarians’ participation in professional development courses organized within the Biblionet program (their potential transportation and accommodation costs should be covered) and to ensure public access to the library minimum 8 hours/day/working day.

The list of public libraries proposed can include, where applicable, maximum 3 branches (total) of either county, municipal or town libraries.

Enrolling in this round of the program will be done as follows:

• A.    County Libraries not yet part of the Biblionet program will submit an online application, which contains 1 form entitled: “County Library Application Form” and maximum 20 forms called “Library Application Form (1)… (20)”, that refers to all the other libraries proposed by every county library to be part of their network. As a result, the application will contain a number of maximum 21 forms, one for the county library and maximum 20 for the proposed public libraries.

The necessary documents for completing the application are:

1. Partnership agreement - only when the Training Center is located in a partner institution;
2. 5 compulsory CVs of persons proposed by the county library to participate at the Training of Trainers course;
3. Letter of commitment for the Training Center;
4. Letters of commitment for every local public authority being in charge of a proposed local library and a Letter of commitment from the county library (when it doesn’t offer free public access to Internet in its headquarters)

• B.    County Libraries already part of the Biblionet program will submit an online application, which contains the form entitled: “Library Application Form (1) … (20)” and as a result, the application will contain a number of maximum 20 forms for additional public libraries (county library branch, municipal library branch, town library branch, municipal library, municipal, town and communal libraries). The application package will also contain maximum 20 letters of agreement from every public administration that has under its administration a proposed library  (in case the county library doesn’t offer free public access to Internet in its headquarters or it proposes a branch of the county library to become part of the program, a letter of agreement from the county library will be added to the application).

County libraries will coordinate data collection from their local libraries and fill out the forms that are posted on http://www.biblionet.ro/show/forms/fid/y.

On the online application page (in the upper part) there are models of Training Center Letters of Commitment and of Library Letters of Commitment in case of donation of computers with free public access to Internet (county library/local library). These documents will be downloaded, filled out, stamped and signed by the county library director, and by the mayor of the locality where the public library is situated.
Candidates can send questions related to the applications to the following e-mail: office@irex.ro, subject “Round 3 Selection Biblionet”.

All applications will be completed and submitted on the www.biblionet.ro website, under “Forms” section by May 31st 2011.

All related documents such as: the county libraries letters of commitment, the maximum 20 public libraries’ letters of commitment and the partnership agreement regarding the training center (if it is the case) will be sent by mail, with confirmation of receipt by May 31st 2011 to the following address: IREX, Str. Staicovici, nr. 15, Bucuresti, postal code: 050556.