North Carolina - Moldova library partnership strengthened by official visit to Chișinău

On 28 March - 7 April, Coordinator of North Carolina - Moldova library partnership Donna Flake has paid a working visit to Chișinău alongside her husband, Jerry Flake. The visit was organized by Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, the institution coordinating national interlibrary cooperation between the two countries.

The visit began with a meeting between the American partners and Rector Emil Ceban, first vice-rector Olga Cernețchi, vice-rector for teaching activity and academic management, Evelina Gherghelegiu, Head of the Department of Foreign Relations and European Integration, and Silvia Ciubrei, Head of Communication and Public Relations Department, Deputy Director of the Scientific Medical Library, coordinator of the interlibrary partnership on behalf of the Republic of Moldova.

Rector Emil Ceban presented the university's achievements in recent years and highlighted the positive impact of the partnership, especially regarding the development of the Scientific Medical Library, which benefited from book donations, access to databases and modern equipment.

Donna Flake reaffirmed the American partners' commitment to the development of education and research in Moldova: “We love Moldova. Everything we have accomplished is done with passion and love for the country and people.” She announced the organization of a first virtual tour in May at a university library in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Silvia Ciubrei said that thanks to the cooperation between the Scientific Medical Library and 12 medical libraries in North Carolina, the USMF “Nicolae Testemițanu” benefited from donations of medical literature (textbooks, monographs, scientific journals), free access to medical and pharmaceutical databases, resources focused on evidence-based medicine, interlibrary loan of scientific articles. The American partners organized training courses for librarians, teachers and students on using electronic information resources, reciprocal documentary visits to university and hospital libraries were carried out.

During a roundtable organized at the Scientific Medical Library, librarians from several universities in the Republic of Moldova discussed the impact of international cooperation on education and research. They reiterated the need to sign an official cooperation agreement to consolidate and expand collaboration.

The delegation explored several university and municipal libraries in Chișinău, Bălți and Comrat. A special moment was the launch of the novella “The Haunted Life of Lura” by Donna Flake, who is also a writer.

The cooperation between libraries in North Carolina and the Republic of Moldova began in 2006 and expanded significantly in 2018. So far, the partnership has offered support in the professional development of librarians, experience exchanges and essential technical equipment.