New reading rooms and an information center were opened at the Medical Scientific Library of “Nicolae Testemițanu” State University of Medicine and Pharmacy (USFM). The University’s rector Emil Ceban voiced hope that the inaugurated spaces will facilitate access to medical literature, databases and valuable electronic libraries, which will contribute to improving the quality of higher medical education in Moldova, IPN reports.
The USFM rector said that the two reading rooms with free access to the shelf have a total of 150 seats. The rooms are intended especially for students, and the book collections consist mainly of teaching publications: textbooks, compendiums, course notes, texts, bachelor’s theses, methodological indications, in Romanian, Russian, English, French. In addition to these two halls, there are three rooms intended for group work, with 18 seats in total. Emil Ceban added that the Medical Scientific Library owns one of the largest and most important collections of old and rare medical books in Europe – the Richard Koch collection. This includes 2,638 copies in foreign languages. More than 300 publications date from the 16th-18th centuries.
The Medical Scientific Library’s director Liubovi Karnaeva, said that these rooms are special and access to the shelf is ensured for the student here. “Until now, our library served the reader with books, but now the reader can go directly to the shelf and choose that book that is relevant to them,” said the director. An information center called Infomedica was opened within the library. This ensures the beneficiaries’ access to electronic resources and instructs them how to work with these. This is the second such center, the first being located in another block. The opening was motivated by the fact that it was a very popular space.
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine No. 1 Gheorghe Plăcintă said that the student at the library can find those fundamental textbooks, reference materials and online resources that are essential for understanding the complexity of medical science. For the resident doctor, the library offers a treasure trove of clinical practice guidelines, case studies and research articles adapted to specialty areas. Those who practice medicine understand very well that without a continuous education process, it is impossible to practice and advance in the specialty.
The students participating in the event welcomed the inauguration of the new reading spaces with access to the shelf. “It’s a place where you can get acquainted with and learn something new and interesting,” said Anastasia Culaxiz, a student at the Faculty of Pharmacy. It is crucial to have extensive material resources, to have a functional library and an electronic scientific library that allows us to access more diverse books so as to broaden our knowledge. We welcome the opening of these reading rooms and promise that we will be loyal readers,” said another student of the same Faculty Cristina Stahi.
The event was held on the occasion of the Librarian’s Day and World Book and Copyright Day, which are celebrated on April 23.
