Only a third of Moldova's libraries have an Internet connection (infographic)

CHIȘINĂU // In recent years, 400 libraries across the country have been modernised through investment in free internet, digital resources, services for citizens and updated book collections, all in order to turn them into vibrant and welcoming community spaces, according to a new infographic published on Budgetstories. However, there are still 1,000 libraries that need a new lease of life.

Currently, only about MDL 15 million is allocated to all the libraries in the country. In these circumstances, a library has an annual amount of up to MDL 7,000 for purchasing books and publications.

The country's libraries held 16.8 million books in 2014, of which 8 million were in Romanian. At the same time, over the past year more than 268 thousand books were acquired, a drastic decrease compared with 2013 and 2012, when more than 350 thousand were bought.

Perhaps the most striking fact is that the renewal rate of the book collection in Moldova's libraries is (!) 63 years, while the international norm is only 7-10 years. Moreover, donations remain the main source of the book stock.

In terms of equipment, only 40% of the country's 1,359 libraries have computers and even fewer, 467 in number, have an internet connection. In addition, only 72 libraries have a website or blog.

The infographic was produced with the support of the Soros Foundation Moldova within the project “The budget process in the Republic of Moldova: monitoring transparency and promoting public control”.

See the infographic