What is IREX? IREX is an international nonprofit organization
providing leadership and innovative programs to improve the quality
of education, strengthen independent media, and foster pluralistic
civil society development in more than 100 countries. IREX oversees
Global Libraries programs in Romania, Ukraine and Moldova
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What is Biblionet? Biblionet is a six-year, 26.9 million dollar
project implemented by IREX with funding from the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation Equip more than 2,300 Romanian public
libraries with technology so citizens have better access to
information. Train over 3,000 librarians in how to use new
technology to provide better services to library visitors, and
develop new library services and advocacy skills. Establish 41 new
training centers for librarians across the country. Assist the
capacity of the National Association of Public Libraries and
Librarians (ANBPR) to advocate on behalf of libraries Foster
government and private sector support for the recognition of the
essential role of libraries in a modern society. Afford citizens
e-government services that they would otherwise be unable to
access.
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Where we started
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Romanias library heritage In 2008: the average age of
collections 43 years
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Romanias library heritage In 2008: only 10 per cent of the
population visited public libraries
CHALLENGES Low capacity of librarians Source:
http://bit.ly/164kqan
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CHALLENGES Lack of experience with developing partnerships
Source: http://bit.ly/1amE88Y
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CHALLENGES Impact or the big picture Source:
http://bit.ly/17G6buY
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Digital divide = Development divide Source:
http://bit.ly/14gauLf
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Biblionet is a six-year, 26.9 million dollar project
implemented by IREX with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation Equip more than 2,300 Romanian public libraries with
technology so citizens have better access to information. Train
over 3,000 librarians in how to use new technology to provide
better services to library visitors, and develop new library
services and advocacy skills. Establish 41 new training centers for
librarians across the country. Assist the capacity of the National
Association of Public Libraries and Librarians (ANBPR) to advocate
on behalf of libraries Foster government support for the
recognition of the essential role of libraries in a modern society.
Afford citizens e-government services that they would otherwise be
unable to access. Internet use at home
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Libraries as a partner for development Source:
http://bit.ly/16FgvHb
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How can libraries contribute?
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Low cohesion funding absorption rates As of January, 2013,
Romania absorbed only 14 % of the total funds allocated by the EU
Public libraries access EU funding Public Libraries as a point of
access for the broader community
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Youth unemployment at 22 % No coherent national policy to
combat the problem. Libraries take the lead, over the past 12
months: 78,000 Romanians sought job seeking assistance 28,500
applied for employment 9,000 successfully secured a job Increasing
unemployment
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Over a three-year period: Over 90,000 farmers Received
approximately 115 million Euros 200,000 working days saved
Agricultural workers save 1,000,000 Euros in transportation and
gasoline. Access to online farm subsidies
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Financial literacy In 2013 through a partnership with Visa
Europe: 980 public libraries participated 10,300 adult Romanians
trained In 2014: 2000 libraries to participate
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Telemedicine In 2013 through a partnership with GE: Pilot
program in two counties 50 doctors trained to operate new EKG
hardware
