The national program Biblionet –World in My Library – is one of the most important investments for facilitating the public access to Internet and setting out a sustainable system of public libraries in Romania. Biblionet has a total value of 26.9 million USD, is funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and has a duration of 5 years, being implemented by International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX). 

The objective of Biblionet program is to facillitate the access of population to Information Technology, taking into account the fact that over 50% of Romania’s population, especially from the rural areas, has no access to internet. Through this program, over 1,600 libraries in Romania will have access to computers and over 3.000 librarians will attend professional training in order to use the potential of the new technologies for the benefit of their communities.

Biblionet program is being currently implemented in 12 counties and by the end of year 3 all counties in Romania will be included. Within this year’s program 12 county libraries have received training labs (11 laptops) and approximately 239 local public libraries have received between 4 to 8 computers each, in order to ensure free online access to Internet for their patrons. 24 county librarians have been trained to become trainers and 239 local and town librarians have been trained in IT and basic library management (IT/LIB course) prior to receiving the computers.

IREX seeks a consultant to design a 2-3 day training course to supplement the IT and library management training course. This second course will provide librarians with basic services development concepts and instruction.

For this purpose, IREX is looking to hire a Romanian consultant. For detailed information please check the Romanian version of the website.