Libraries from Moldova actively get involved in backing refugees

Chisinau, 16 March /MOLDPRES/ - The National Library of Moldova (BNRM) has worked out guidelines as to the involvement of the libraries to help the refugees and asylum seekers, following a meeting titled, Libraries helping the refugees, at a request by Culture Minister Sergiu Prodan. The suggestions can be used by all libraries and are really useful for the elaboration and implementation of the own action plans.      

According to a press release by the Culture Ministry, the libraries of Moldova provide access to Internet and information and communication technologies which belong to these institutions. As many as 1,126 territorial libraries out of the 1,307 ones have computers and 1,103 are connected to the Internet. Also, the libraries will help refugees and asylum seekers, providing them with information and communication, organizing recreation activities for children and parents, involving librarians in diverse activities of charity, volunteering, using the spaces as donation centres.    

At the same time, the libraries are willing to employ refugees or involve them in volunteering activities. Thus, under the Instruction No 4 from 1 March 2022, issued by Moldova’s Commission for Emergency Situations (CSE) on the employment of Ukrainian citizens, based on an individual labour contract for indefinite period, during the emergency state period, BNRM employed a refugee from the Mykolaiv city, Ukraine. So far 14 users refugees and asylum seekers from Ukraine have registered at the National Library.         

Librarians from all over Moldova agreed that, given that there was no time for the testing of new services, the best way to help refugees and asylum seekers at the opportune moment is the use of services and activities verified during time, as well as the application of services and activities tested successfully in other countries or in advanced libraries of Moldova.