“When we chose Romania to be part of the Global Libraries program, we thought about two things: the need to create a modern public library system and means of supporting this investment once funding is no longer available. I first visited Romania 18 months ago and I can tell you there have been some awesome changes. Librarians have more faith and professional pride, while patrons can find services in libraries they couldn’t a while ago”, said Ms. Deborah Jacobs, director of the Global Libraries Initiative with the Bill&Melinda Gates Foundation, during her February 1 - 4 visit to Romania. Ms. Jacobs and Ms. Siri Oswald, program officer for Romania with the Gates Foundation had meetings with central and local government representatives, the ANBPR, National Library and private businesses.

On Wednesday February 3, Ms. Jacobs and the director of Biblioonet program Paul Andre Baran, held a press conference at the Suceava County Library, together with library director Gabriel Carabus.

http://www.monitorulsv.ro/Cultural%20local/2010-02-04/A-doua-runda-de-implementare-si-derulare-a-Programului-Biblionet

Modern services in the municipal library of Vatra Dornei were inaugurated then, as organized by librarian Mariana Sorohan and mayor Ioan Moraru. Community leaders and library opatrons were also present at the event and described various activities and the most interesting events held in the library for Ms. Jacobs. 

On February 4, the last day of this visit, Gates Foundation representatives took part in the first panel discussion organized by IREX in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. This panel focused in the “New Face of Romanian Public Libraries: the Role of Libraries in Community Development” and certified once more the good working relations between Biblionet and the Ministry, while paving the way for other discussions of topical issues for libraries and communities alike.

Press clippings reflecting the event can be found below:

http://www.biblionet.ro/show/index/k/62/a/663