Public libraries promoted within program sponsored by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Newsroom 27/10/2010 | 17:59

Public libraries will be promoted as centers of information resources and access to e-governing, as part of the Biblionet program. A protocol was closed between the Ministry of Communications, the International Research & Exchanges Board and the National Association of Librarians and Public Libraries in Romania.

The Biblionet program is financed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and has a total value of USD 26.9 million. It was launched in 2009 and will unfold for a period of five years through the IREX Romania Foundation. Up to the moment, 795 public libraries have been equipped with 3,318 which can be used by the public for internet access. The program has also seen the IT training of 905 librarians.

The libraries also function as hot spots since they are equipped with computers, scanners, printers, video projectors, wi-fi networks and can be used by the population for internet access.