Hermina G.B. Anghelescu, PhD

School of Library & Information Science

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan, USA

ag7662@wayne.edu

The Library System in Romania National Libraries

The National Library of Romania The Library of the Romanian Academy The National Pedagogical Library The National Military Library

Academic Libraries School Libraries Special Libraries Public Libraries

[Alarming] Statistical Data based on the Romanian Statistical Yearbook

Conclusion

Type of Library & Year Libraries Volumes

(thousands) Registered Users

(thousands) Volumes Checked Out

(thousands)

National Libraries 2005 4 20,601 43 867

National Libraries 2010 4 21,053 46 665

National Libraries % of Change 0.0% 2.2% 7.0% -23.3%

Academic Libraries 2005 106 24,582 614 12,418

Academic Libraries 2010 100 24,913 559 9,098

Academic Libraries % of Change -5.7% 1.3% -9.0% -26.7%

Special Libaries 2005 846 16,313 163 1,403

Special Libraries 2010 589 10,334 88 1,743

Special Libraries % of Change -30.4% -36.7% -46.0% 24.2%

School Libraries 2005 8,585 63,174 2,276 23,628

School Libraries 2010 8,300 67,448 2,108 22,524

School Libraries % of Change -3.3% 6.8% -7.4% -4.7%

Public Libraries 2005 2,914 49,710 1,881 32,409

Public Libraries 2010 2,836 49,681 1,632 24,294

Public Libraries % of Change -2.7% -0.1% -13.2% -25.0%

Total of All Libraries 2005 12,455 174,380 4,977 70,725

Total of All Libraries 2010 11,829 173,429 4,433 58,324

Total of All Libraries % of Change -5.0% -0.5% -10.9% -17.5%

Universities Students Faculty Libraries Library users

2005 107 716,464 31,430 106 614,000

2010 108 673,001 29,746 100 559,000

% of Change 0.9% -6.1% -5.4% -5.7% -9.0%

0.9%

-6.1%

-5.4%

-5.7%

-9.0% -10.0%

-8.0%

-6.0%

-4.0%

-2.0%

0.0%

2.0%

-

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

% of Change in Higher Education Between 2005 and 2010 (Fig. 1)

0.0% 2.2%

7.0%

-23.3%

-5.7%

1.3%

-9.0%

-26.7%

-30.4%

-36.7%

-46.0%

24.2%

-3.3%

6.8%

-7.4%

-4.7% -2.7%

-0.1%

-13.2%

-25.0%

-5.0%

-0.5%

-10.9%

-17.5%

-50.0%

-40.0%

-30.0%

-20.0%

-10.0%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

Libraries Volumes Registered Users Volumes Checked Out

% of Change of Library Statistics Between 2005 and 2010 (Fig. 2)

National Libraries

Academic Libraries

Special Libraries

School Libraries

Public Libraries

Total of All Libraries

[+] Some Progress: Modernization process on multiple fronts: New locales purposefully built to serve as libraries

Opening of collections

Librarians participating in continuing education programs

Biblionet, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, 28 million USD; 2,000/2,836 public libraries equipped + 1,000/4,500 public librarians trained

[-] Room for Improvement: More responsibility and involvement from the funding agencies/overseeing bodies Librarians, Information specialists & Library Leaders need to become more responsive to

join efforts in order to: Reach common ground towards creating a national shared online catalog Coordinate at the national scale disparate digitization efforts that occur locally Develop databases with local content The Key: C3=Communication; Collaboration; Coordination

Library infrastructure Librarians’ training and their exposure to practices in the West Librarians’ change of attitude towards their constituencies Professional commitment and leadership corroborated with substantial financial support

from Library associations to join forces & speak with one voice towards common goals Library and Information Science education at western standards Coherent national program to support & promote library development National library development strategy (short and long term) Rethinking the library’s mission in Romania’s society (shift from repository “biblioteca

templul cartii” to an active information center focused on providing customer-oriented services and on promoting the principles of Information Literacy)

Hermina G.B. Anghelescu School of Library & Information Science

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

Email: ag7662@wayne.edu