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Biblionet Director Nominated for EU Digital Champion of Romania February 24, 2012 IREX congratulates Biblionet Program Director Paul-Andre Baran on his nomination to serve as European Union Digital Champion for Romania. In its nominating letter, the Romanian Minister of Communications and Information Society Valerian Vreme wrote, “Through his work, Mr. Baran has constantly advocated for the role of ICT in today’s society and …managed to bring a strong contribution to reducing the Digital Divide in Romania.”	IREX President to Speak on Arab Spring and International Development February 14, 2012 IREX President W. Robert Pearson will be a panelist to discuss democratic movements and international development efforts in the Middle East at an event organized by the Society for International Development Washington Chapter.
Personal Finance Goes Online at Romanian Libraries February 10, 2012 Online banking is slowly coming to Romania, but many people continue to rely on cash. Research by the Association of Electronic Payments in Romania shows that while 85% of people in urban areas have a credit or debit card, only 56% use it two or more times per month. Rural areas have even fewer opportunities to transition to electronic banking because there are few rural branches for major banks. Libraries are serving as a platform to open possibilities to online payments and other expanded opportunities in personal finance.	Integrating the Deaf Community in Kazakhstan January 31, 2012 by Jason Vuong Do There are limited services to protect and support the hearing impaired community in Kazakhstan. Once individuals complete schooling, few government resources exist to help them function independently alongside other citizens.
Low-Income Student Thrives on Educational Opportunity January 19, 2012 Dinara Shakmetova grew up in a small remote village in Kazakhstan with her single mother and four siblings. With limited economic resources, Dinara would often knit clothing items to sell as a way of making extra money for the family in addition to her studies and household chores.	Libraries Find New Patrons in Non-Traditional Locations January 11, 2012 In Ukraine, librarians are going outside the library walls to bring their services to new audiences. Three libraries found momentum by setting up shop in shopping malls and outdoor locations, and their success is inspiring others to replicate their efforts. Tulchyn Raion Library director Vira Vihurzhynska had been contemplating new outreach activities for awhile. With grant funding, a new laptop and promotional materials Vihurzhynska immediately targeted a high-traffic spot: “I went straight to the large shopping mall to negotiate a possible location. The owner responded that their best spaces were always available for [the library] and told me to go ahead and choose a spot I liked most!”
Libraries Leverage Training Centers to Help Seniors Enjoy “Golden Years” December 22, 2011 One in five Ukrainians is a senior citizen, and with the aging population growing, libraries are taking action to create new opportunities for friendship, learning, and growth. In Lviv, librarians organized a program called “Golden Years” that built a community of older residents who learn IT skills and English, explore new hobbies like dancing and crafts, and develop their own initiatives.	Lung Testing at the Library Increases COPD Awareness and Support December 22, 2011 For more than 60 residents of Carpinis, Romania, a recent visit to the library was far from typical. Instead of checking out books or looking for information on the Internet, a doctor and a spirometer were waiting for them. This was a rare opportunity to receive medical care and advice without having to travel to urban areas and an innovative use of the library to improve community health.
Community Leaders Return Home Poised to Effect Positive Change December 21, 2011 Communities across the globe will soon participate in innovative development projects, as 64 leaders from 21 countries return home from an extensive leadership training and practicum in the U.S. After four months of working at community improvement organizations and government offices across the U.S. and participating in an online leadership institute, Community Solutions leaders gathered for their closing conference in mid-December.	Celebrations and Challenges December 21, 2011 by W. Robert Pearson This is the moment each year when we celebrate, when we remember all that has been achieved and all the people whose lives we’ve shared over the past year. We look back on what we’ve learned, and we also look forward to the new year and all that it will bring. One year merges seamlessly into the next, and thus we start again. What we’ve accomplished becomes the energy for what we dream still to do.