An Enemy Becomes a Best Friend

Vica Blaga has been the librarian of Tg. Bujor, a little town in Galati County, Romania, for 26 years. She recalls feeling desperate when computerization of libraries was first discussed. “I was afraid I would not be able to keep up with my younger co-workers who talked of Google, IDs, Yahoo, Messenger, etc., and I didn’t understand a word they said. I even thought about retirement, but apparently I was too young for this.”

When Vica was diagnosed with a rare illness, she rushed to her medical books to learn more. “They didn’t tell me much,” Vica recalls. “Then I went in front of my enemy — the computer — and got online for the first time and learned many things — risks, treatments, the best doctor, appointments, and forum discussions. And so, during a difficult time my enemy became my best friend and a good adviser.”

The Biblionet: The World in My Library program, implemented by IREX, was introduced to her region, and the library of Tg. Bujor was among the first selected. After Vica’s training in IT skills and service management, her fears about computers in libraries disappeared. “I learned not only how to use the Internet, but also how to create PowerPoint presentations and, most importantly, how to help others.”

Through the Biblionet program, Vica organized a library event to get her community online. She won a prize in the “Get Online” campaign for producing a PowerPoint presentation outlining how she welcomed a homeless child into the community by teaching him to read and write using the computer. Soon afterwards, she won the essay section of the “I Am a Librarian” contest organized by Biblionet, with a recollection of her trials and tribulations with the computer. “Now I am twice as proud that my library will remain the indisputable leader of my community.”

The above story is originally featured in our 2010 Annual Report. With your help, we can continue to change the lives of other people like Vica. Please consider making a gift online through our donation page.