Building a library from scratch requires an enormous amount of creativity and hard work. In Vulcana Pandele, a village in Romania, the library was crammed into a tiny space with little room for the resources that community members needed. Biblionet offers computers and trainings to libraries across Romania, but there has to be a place to put the new technology. Luiza Barbu was eager to bring modern services to her patrons, and inspired by a fellow librarian to take action: “I went to all the council meetings and asked them to give me space for a new library, so we can join Biblionet. They must have been fed up with me at some point, because they agreed to lease a larger location. We have about 40 square meters (400 square feet), and I’m eager to fill it up with books and computers.”
The mayor got on board as well, agreeing to order new furniture and finding a carpenter to help with construction. In a time of lean budgets, this was a significant cost for the mayor and local council, but all saw the library as worthwhile investment. Luiza explains, “Every time they come by, they see the children lined up in front of the library. I organize activities and project movies.” Mayor Constantin Olteanu added, “My goal is to develop the village, which means also funding cultural activities . . . I knew something must be done for the children and youth of our community. I see them come to the little library each day and this gives me hope for the future.”
Luiza has already had success with attracting children, and looks forward to expanding: “I hope, when the computers come, to attract more adults to the library. People don’t read and are not interested in what I have here, although every year I get money for books and the collection is pretty new. But what can you expect? For 30 years there was no library in this community. People need to learn the benefits of reading.” With the brand-new space and support from the local government, Vulcana Pandele has the chance to find out what they have been missing at the library.
The five year, $26.9 million Biblionet program, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and implemented by IREX, aims to help develop a modern public library system in Romania.