About 250 public libraries, most of them rural, have been left out of the modernization process carried out through the Novateca program, implemented by IREX-Moldova. Their modernization should involve concerted efforts from local communities, authorities and businesses interested in developing cultural institutions.
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Research told IPN the public libraries left out of the process are usually located in small villages with populations under 500 and where libarians work only part-time.
As of January 1, Moldova had 1,334 active territorial public libraries. Their modernization began with the implementation of the Novateca program in 2011. At the initial stage, the process involved 750 public libraries, and then the number increased to 1088. Two national libraries, two municipal, ten city, 25 district, and 1049 village libraries have been modernized so far.
The modernization aims to turn libraries into active community centers that provide the community with access to a modern public space equipped with computers connected to the Internet, as well as innovative information services designed to improve the lives of citizens.
The Novateca program is part of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Libraries initiative, which focuses on facilitating people's access to computers, the Internet, and training through public libraries.