Public libraries to be connected to the Net

Public libraries in Moldova will be connected to the Internet and their staff will be trained to use it, under a project supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Info-Prim Neo reports. Chiril Lucinschi, head of the Parliament's commission for culture and education matters, stated at a festive event dedicated to the National Librarian Day that similar projects have been successfully implemented in the Baltic states, Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine. A public report will be presented in autumn on the readiness of the Moldovan libraries to be involved in this program, said Lucinschi. At the event, Education Minister Mihai Sleahtitchi handed the highest distinction of the Education Ministry – Diplomas of Honor – to a number of librarians from Chisinau and other parts of the country, thanking them for their effort. The librarians, for their part, expressed their hope that the government would support the efforts to renew and supplement the stocks of books in libraries. “We are pleased that in today's society emphasis is put on intelligence and on the spiritual resources contained in libraries, which we protect and share with anyone who comes to the library”, said Viorica Tanasciuc, chief librarian at the Informatics College in Chisinau. The National Librarian Day was first celebrated in Moldova 10 years ago. There are 2,914 libraries across the republic, including two national, 1,378 public, 1,442 school, 24 college, 17 university and 51 specialized libraries.