Librarians, Internet Improve Farmers’ Livelihoods in Romania

A relative handful of librarians have helped 100,000 farmers get $187 million in subsidies via new Internet and computer services in just two years.

The Biblionet-affiliated librarians, peppered throughout 30 counties in Romania, helped farmers learn how to use the technology to access financial forms and submit them to the government. The efforts have meant a world of difference for farmers, saving them lengthy trips and expenses and allowing them to be more productive.

“The equipment makes it easier to find any information now,” said Liliana Marin, one of the farmers who benefitted from the service. Librarian Markos Maria Imola agreed.

“Coming to the library [the farmers] save time, money. Everything is faster, more operative,” she said.

Biblionet, a five-year program that helps Romanian libraries better serve their communities through training and technology, made the services possible. Successes resulting from the 2011 pilot were transformed into a standard service in 2012.

The more than 1,000 librarians who participated in training made the decision to bring the services to their buildings together with local mayors. They realized the services were useful for farmers, who no longer needed to travel to another city to fill in the applications, thus saving time and money. Most of the mayors understood that this service is in the farmers’ interest. The Romanian Agency for Payments and Interventions in Agriculture (APIA) facilitated talks with local mayors to help meet specific infrastructure requirements. They paid special attention to local needs and came up with local solutions.

The librarians assisted the farmers in various ways, including promoting the services, scheduling the farmers, and connecting them to APIA experts. In many places, they became familiar with the entire application process.

The program also boosted the community’s awareness of other library resources.

“[It] attracted new patrons…people came and discovered other services such as computer training and free Internet access,” said Librarian Gabriela Ticoiu of Halchiu.

Libraries will continue offering the service throughout 2013. APIA also began a promotional campaign in 1,400 locations inviting new libraries to participate in the program.