Every year, 98,000 Romanians are diagnosed with cancer, but there is little awareness of the needs of cancer patients in many communities. Approximately 3100 residents of Tulcea and Constanta counties are coping with cancer, where the public health system has only one onocology department with six doctors, and most nurses have little experience or training in supporting the unique needs of these patients. Now, nurses are receiving that training as part of a two year project called “Learn, Share, Live Better,” using libraries and librarians to create resource centers with reliable information, cultivate community with support groups, and improve oncology education.
Four Biblionet-supported libraries are now resource centers that offer training and materials to medical professionals and librarians on topics such as how to manage and facilitate support groups and a guide for cancer patient support groups. The libraries also provide free and easy access to reliable information in online resources and printed materials about cancer and care givers and help patrons talk to their medical providers. Librarian Elena Topa shared, “In my town there are relatively few people who have been diagnosed with cancer...the course has shown me how to facilitate communication between the person who is suffering and the care givers.”
The libraries are both an educational resource and a place to build community. Luminita Lupascu, president of the Partners in Progress Organization, remarked, “…the library promotes the importance of education at all ages…We hope family physicians will direct cancer patients to the library to have access to online resources. Librarians will give communities more than just books; they will give valuable information that can change lives!”
As the network of people empowered to support patients expands through southeastern Romania [8], librarians, psychologists, nurses, and patients will all benefit from the educational resources that are helping bring increased understanding to living with cancer.
Biblionet [9] is a five year IREX program funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that equips libraries with computers and helps librarians implement new services.