Biblionet – Global Libraries Romania

Planning Grant

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation selected the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) to plan for a program to provide public access computers with internet access in Romania to improve socio-economic conditions throughout the country.

At the conclusion of the planning grant, IREX presented the foundation with a nationwide program implementation plan that included recommendations for increasing public internet access throughout Romania, along with alternatives and potential challenges.

KEY ISSUE AND OBJECTIVE

Develop a nationwide program implementation plan for improving public access to information technology in Romania.

Project Activities

Between fall 2007 and fall 2008, IREX and its partners implemented the following activities as part of the planning process for a national public internet access program. This year-long information gathering process focused on how to improve access to the Internet through public libraries, especially for the most underserved groups. Activities included:

Establishing public access computer networks in libraries in five counties. Each county network consisted of up to three sites, for a total of 12 sites dispersed among county capital, town, and rural libraries. Each library was paired with an NGO to help facilitate community engagement.

Exploring a variety of computer training options targeted at librarians, government officials, public users, and marginalized groups. IREX worked with selected national training organizations to evaluate the training curricula and approaches best suited to Romanian needs.

Conducting an assessment to determine the status and capacity of Romania’s public libraries and informational needs of communities. IREX partnered with survey firms and the National Association of Public Libraries and Librarians to collect information on citizens’ use of the Internet, on existing library facilities and on librarians’ training requirements.

Collaborating with the National Library Commission in establishing a National Steering Committee consisting of stakeholders from government, the library system and the private sector to discuss the challenges of providing public access to the Internet through libraries, and formulating national policy directed at supporting this access over the long-term.

Conducting a series of regional conferences to promote the exchange of information between participants and experts on community internet access, discuss plans, and reflect on lessons learned.

Coordinating with the ANRCTI Universal Service telecentre project and Ministry of Communication Knowledge Economy project to share experience and best practices with project participants, informing program design to best make use of existing knowledge and resources.

Contact

For more information about Biblionet – Global Libraries Romania, please email gl@irex.org.