From equal rights to organizational development via democracy
Who doesn’t need democracy? Addressing this rhetorical question, it seems understandable that we are already adding our approach within the framework of democracy. Nevertheless, when we are discussing about libraries and democracy, we may be tempted to think that this is a false problem for libraries, because of the role that they hold as institutions and by definition of the expression of democracy. And just a step away is the tautology: democracies need libraries and libraries need democracy. This article is about how can a young institution such as the National Associations of Librarians from Republic of Moldova position itself as an open window to democracy through its activities and what mechanism is configured to strengthen its community of librarians.
It is a fact that nowadays libraries are no longer seen as a repository of books, where people are coming there just for specialised documentation. Reading was escalated by dialogue, so at first sight, the library has positioned itself as a space available for people. But people are different and, as institutions and their librarians need to identify the audience, a new mechanism was needed. Since early 2000, European Union had several programs dedicated to audience development, but there were no indications on how an institution that is working with the public should do that. The calls for proposals and after that, the projects that fulfilled that framework, were in the end examples of good practices. Still, there is a sensitive aspect when it comes to the role of a public library defined as a hub for citizens.
The National Association of Librarians of the Republic of Moldova was founded in 1991 and registered and ready for action in 1992. So, right after the communist curtain dropped in the Soviet Union, librarians were already ready to take action within the democracy field. And, as statute provisions, from the very beginning, the association set up its objectives, which we briefly point out as follows: democratisation and improvement of library management; coordinating the efforts of librarians and boosting their professional and creative potential; amplifying the social status and prestige of the librarian profession, appreciating the social significance of library activity, defending the rights of librarians, improving their material and social conditions; establishing relations between librarians from Moldova and abroad, ensuring their participation in similar international organizations.
The window of democracy was already opened and added from the beginning a horizon of opportunities for such a fresh and new institution for librarians. What happened sooner than expected was a consolidated partnership and dialogue with international institutions. Each project the association developed through the years embraced the idea to promote the activity of a librarian and put the spotlight on the growing competencies and abilities of the librarians’ community. Throughout many of the projects the association developed, you can see a red wire in the idea of assuming the perspectives on the role of libraries as stewards of an informed citizenry and enablers of democratic participation. As per its role of being active within specific actions related to democracy and active citizenship, the association focused on bringing at the same table people from the community with authorities to discuss, adjust and fix sensitive and essential aspects. One of these aspects that needs a little space for discussion is equal opportunities. Perhaps for countries in Western Europe, this subject is no longer under the loop, but for the Republic of Moldova, it is on the agenda, while politics puts this matter aside. The result, after developing some projects based on open dialogue, was an awareness of the concept itself, so people understood what equal opportunities means mean, but also their voices and observations were heard by authorities. Among other aspects and actions that members of the association put into practice, the role of this association becomes more and more dynamic year after year. Gathering together all those best practices, the association is now a repository of ideas and examples on how to respond to a subject and how to link authorities and community, adding value to the library space. In other words, libraries that are now coordinated by the association are advocating for a healthy and open community with few unresolved issues.
But there is an aspect that we need to focus on, which is the subtle change of role of the librarians that happened during the transition to democracy. And this is valid for all the countries that switched from communism to democracy. This change of role came along with another word that strengthened the image of the library in front of the community- ‘project’. We see that this word is now used very often and enhances the idea of an activity, which could be complex or with a lower level of complexity. But, looking over the characteristics of the concept itself, each project is unique and original. So, librarians were all of a sudden in front of a new activity that was somehow outside the usual framework of their activity. They needed to develop projects for an audience they did not know so well because the audience is dynamic as projects are touching only sub-structures of that community.
The Association of Librarians from the Republic of Moldova understood from the beginning the idea of adding value to the day-to-day services that a library is providing to its community but also merged the idea of a project on what that community really needs with an immediate action. The philosophy behind the actions that the association is developing is based on unresolved aspects that touch on a big community to identify the core of the needs for their constituency. Librarians have a decisive role in gathering information and opening the dialogue, but the association is focusing more on people and not on institutions. That’s why they need to grow their organization with the help and assistance from specialists first, and then from institutions. And it is not so hard to control the libraries, whilst the Republic of Moldova is not a big country, it has 2 big towns and 32 rayons, so 32 rayons and 2 public libraries.
At the time being, the main priority of the association is to grow competencies among school librarians. In the next period, the association is planning to involve the librarians from schools in their projects, focusing on developing new competencies for them. Among the type of competencies enumerated are digital, communication and project management.
IREX, a global development and education organization, implemented in Republic of Moldova the program called Novoteca. This was a real breakthrough for librarians because it was a turning point for their new role in the community. In Republic of Moldova, IREX focused on data-driven community development, library modernization and media literacy. Among the goals of the program is included the improvement of local services and increasing access to quality and reliable information.
In their effort to sustain a permanent engagement in democratic life, the association is defined by the active participation of its members. For the actual president of the association, participation in democratic life means civic engagement. And to position the librarians and also the libraries in this action means to configure the role of the librarians as being an inspirational model for the community. The idea of a librarian as an inspirational model to his community is based on a sensitive approach to the children and mainly to young people to develop critical thinking, as librarians will permanently wear their main hat, as a source of information and service for the community.
In the end, we conclude with the idea that libraries are for everyone, everywhere. They provide safe spaces for public dialogue. They disseminate the information so the public can participate in the processes of governance. Also, due to a social dynamic that occurs, libraries provide access to government information so that the public can monitor the work of its elected officials and benefit from the data collected and distributed by public policy makers. They serve as gathering places for the community to share interests and concerns. They provide opportunities for citizens to develop the skills needed to gain access to information of all kinds and, most importantly, to put the information to effective use.
Get in touch with the National Association of Librarians from Republic of Moldova
Address: 78A 31 August 1989 St, Chisinau
Phone number: +37322 221-475
Webpage/ social media channel: https://www.abrm.md/
This project is developed by Progress Foundation Romania, granted by E.U. and the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation, a project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States and implemented in Armenia, Republic Of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine with the help of the regional partners: Lori Regional Library, Armenia; “Dimitrie Cantemir” Public Library from Ungheni, “IPS Antonie Plamadeala” Public Library from Hincesti & Library Association from Republic of Moldova; “G.T. Kirileanu” Neamt County Library & “Antim Ivireanul” Valcea County Library from Romania; Luhansk Regional Scientific Library, Lviv Public Library & Ukrainian Library Association, from Ukraine.
This article was written by PhD Alin Daniel Piroșcă.
Growing Active Citizens Hubs is granted by E.U. and the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation, a project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Black Sea Trust or its partners.