The COVID-19 pandemic diminished the number of visitors of libraries, but those working in the field found alternatives. Many of the services provided by libraries and activities organized by these were transposed to the online environment. The librarians ascertained an advantage – the number of participants increased and includes Moldovans who settled abroad.
Contacted by IPN for details, National Library director general Elena Pintilei said that starting with the second half of last March, the Library has complied with all the restrictions imposed in connection with the pandemic. The activity of the employees and the Library was reorganized. Temporarily, the library stopped work, but reopened its doors as soon as it was possible. The employees were outfitted appropriately so as to be able to interact with visitors.
“In general, the Library managed to stick to its program, but some of the activities were transported to the online environment,” said Elena Pintilei, noting the number of visitors of the Library declined by one third, but the situation has been improving. There are mounted exhibitions and other events.
“In the period, we convinced ourselves that the community needs the Library, but mixed forms of work with users should be implemented, including the online model. We should enrich the digital library “Moldavica” and should make the electronic catalogue permanently available. The bibliographers should be available within the service “The Librarian Responds”. The libraries resisted during the pandemic and managed to adjust to the new conditions on time,” stated Elena Pintilei.
Eugenia Bejan, director general of the National Children’s Library “Ion Creangă”, has told IPN that the pandemic affected the library and the librarians. “However, we considered these changes a challenge and an opportunity. The modern libraries before the pandemic also adjusted their activity to the online developments. The librarians were taught to use information technologies and the transfer wasn’t so painful as a result,” she stated.
The director noted that there was a period during which the library was closed to visitors and the number of books borrowed last year was lower. Instead, there were extended and developed new programs and services. A part of the traditional activities were moved to the online environment. There were staged training workshops and implemented projects to promote reading among different age groups.
For safety reasons, the parents came after books instead of their children. But it is different when the children come themselves to the library and have access to the shelf. The librarians did their best for reading and knowledge to be accessible. Campaigns, contests, meetings with readers continue to be held, but online. As a result, more people have access to these activities, including from abroad.
