Which doctor should I choose to perform my knee surgery? Who is the best dentist in our area? These are typical questions asked of the librarians in the public library of Racoasa Commune, Romania. Usually, patrons with medical questions turn to Google to search for answers or request that librarians help them search for the best doctor to address their ailment. Others pay to travel to the capital city to seek out a doctor, and are often told to return later for treatment—costing them additional time and money for travel and services. Recognizing the need for accurate and organized health information, librarian Ghiță Vlădoiu developed and launched the Biblio@Sănătate (Library@health) initiative, an online database that provides information about the best doctors in the county as well as national and international specialists.
From the library website users can make appointments and even ask for basic medical advice from their home or library computers. Library patrons save money and time, and librarians also save time by directing patrons to the user-friendly resource, rather than scouring the internet in search of a doctor. Vlădoiu shared: “Our commune has 3,350 inhabitants and many of them are seniors with a big need to go to town to treat specific illnesses. Before, if you…wanted to see a doctor, first you would plan for a 75 mile trip to Focsani, the main medical point in the area. (This database) allows the whole community to be informed about the medical doctors in the county and other cities, including their working hours and useful links.”
Two library volunteers gathered the information for the best doctors in the region based on online reviews and posted this information in a dedicated section of the library’s website. The site is also connected to a partner medical platform (sfatulmedicului.ro), where users can receive free online consultations with different doctors.
Since its launch in January 2011, the webpage has received over 17,000 visits. Librarians and volunteers promote the database and distribute flyers to homes, post offices, and other administration buildings and public spaces. The library is also beginning to collect success stories from patrons who found a great doctor as a result of the site. One 32-year-old local teacher had two successful ear surgeries in a clinic in Szeged, Hungary thanks to a link that she found in the “Useful links” sub-section.
Vlădoiu plans to expand the database to include a Frequently Asked Questions section. He has also received support from volunteers and the library administration to purchase and manage additional databases and expand the library’s offerings, efforts that will enhance the library’s role as an essential service provider.
Biblionet [6] is a five-year program that helps Romanian libraries better serve their communities through training and technology.