Monday, October 5th -- Final Post of the Day

Just woke from a 3-hour nap. It is 12:07 a.m. on Tuesday morning. When trying to take in everything from today (Monday, October 5), I actually find myself at a loss for words. I enjoyed a breakfast in the main dining room of the Hilton. The breakfast buffet was the largest I have ever seen – both cold buffet and hot. So much to choose from including fruits, cheeses, breads, cereals, yogurts, and a variety of cold meats including shrimp. The hot buffet included pancakes, breaded chicken sausages (wasn’t brave enough), pork sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, hard-boiled eggs, and the chef was there to make a hot omelet to your order. Just noticed I spent a lot of time on the food. Hmmm.

Anca and my Embassy driver, Niku, picked me up by 8:30 a.m. The drive to the Embassy library was another white-knuckled affair. “The traffic not too bad today,” explained Niku. “Dah, dah, (yes, yes)” agreed Anca. “There is a national strike today.” What??? I thought?

Apparently all police, teachers, traffic cops, etc. were on strike for this one-day. “The traffic could have been much, much worse,” continued Niku. “The children have no school today so that traffic is not on the road,” said Anca. Wow. If this is a “light day” of traffic, I shutter to see a real rush hour. (I’d have my chance later in the day.)

Upon arrival at the Embassy library (another building separate from the U.S. Embassy) I was taken through security. Although I was expected, security is still tight, lots of police outside. Always have to show my passport.

Met in the morning with Julie O’Reagan, the Cultural Affairs Officer as well as attended a briefing by National Library General Director Elena Tirziman. The National Library is Romania’s equivalent of the Library of Congress – but with more of an active role in the structure of libraries in the country. Under the government wing of the Ministry of Culture, the National Library is on the top of the pyramid of library organization, with the tiniest of local library branches being at the bottom. The National Library has many purposes, one of which is the preservation of historical documents. They have rapidly outgrown their allotted space and are in the process of building a new National Library, which will be the largest national library in the world – over 10 stories high with two additional underground. They should move into the new facility within three years.

Additional briefings with IREX Biblionet Program Officer Daniela Draghici and Anca Rapeanu, Library Innovation Specialist provided information about the visionary program of connecting all public libraries in Romania via high-speed Internet and computers – with reference databases being a future goal. Biblionet will also provide as a clearinghouse for continued education for library staff living in isolated areas. The closest thing in America that compares is the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) – except imagine OPLIN on a national level. I have seen first hand the impact OPLIN has had on the citizens of Ohio – and they have not just come out of the grips of Communism. I cannot imagine the tremendous impact this resource will have on the citizenry of Romania. It will truly be life changing.

Both Daniela and Anca R. are dynamic, visionary and passionate workers for this program. Their enthusiasm is contagious and their vision is spreading. The attempt now – before a possible new President is elected in November, to ensure that Biblionet is written into law – secure and sustainable funding. Sounds familiar. Anca R. is a young vibrant woman with cropped red hair and an incredible smile. Daniela was running a bit late, but arrived in a flurry – with her vest, tie, funky clothes, purple spiked hair and absolutely flawless English. Together they are a force to be reckoned with – My kind of people! We connected immediately.

Daniela shared stories that during Communism, they were not allowed to read books. She said they would find books, photo copy them and pass them around. She remembers reading a worn photocopy of Orwell’s 1984 with a flashlight under the covers. Her story reminds me that you cannot extinguish the human spirit and can-do attitude with an iron fist government. Knowledge and the light of information will always find a way.

After meeting other members of the Embassy staff, I proceeded to conduct my first Digital Video Conference (DVD). I had a technology specialist that took care of all the bells and whistles. On the screen were librarians from three remote areas. There were close to 100 locally in the room. This number increased each day as word of this presentation made it’s way around Bucharest. Many of the audience members at the Embassy were from the University Library and the Metropolitan Library (the main public library of Bucharest) – hardly rural public libraries, but they were interested none-the-less.

My translator was another Anca – Anca Ionescu PhD. She was a conference interpreter in English, French, Russian, Spanish, Czech, Bulgarian, Polish, and Slovak. Her other job is as Professor of Foreign Language at the University of Bucharest. She’s my new sister. We laughed and got along wonderfully. It took me a while to get use to another voice behind me, but soon we got into a rhythm that helped the interpretation be true to the spirit. Anca the translator loves cats. She says… “I have so many. Well, they are strays but they stay – probably because I feed them. But, I always let them go… in my backyard. I get the females fixed. Not the males. What are they going to do without the ladies?” She shared photos of one of her huge cats she had saved on her camera. I was glad I had some cat bookmarks to give her. Cat people just “understand” each other. I found a kindred spirit – one of many from the day.

The session in the morning and afternoon were the same – Youth and Adult Services and Marketing. We all laughed. The questions were very good – one gentleman from the Bucharest Metropolitan Library, after I shared basic concepts of free access and intellectual freedom – asked, “how do you provide free access to all ages when some of the materials is obviously not appropriate for children?” His question was a bit more in depth, but basically that is how it is translated. After I thanked him for his question, I talked about the constant challenge it is – especially in rural and smaller libraries – to protect the rights of children and their access to information. I discussed parental responsibility and community standards. I shared that in rural and small communities the opinions will be different then that of urban libraries. And, I shared that even among colleagues in the same profession – we would be in disagreement at times. But, full freedom of access to information is the goal we strive for. We all do the best we can. A second question from a remote location was also about Intellectual Freedom and the censorship of violent fairy tales, “should we edit the story about Snow White so it is not so violent to young children?” I explained basic concepts of storytelling, that the storyteller has to acknowledge the age and comprehension level of the audience and that there was no “storytelling police” who would come and arrest them if they changed it up a bit. I also let them know that there are a variety of versions of the traditional fairy tales that are more age-appropriate for younger children.

I found it interesting that both questions referred to Intellectual Freedom – a fact I was sure was impacted by the new freedoms in Romania and the struggle to identify how one transitions from a Communist state to a Democratic state.

The reception for the program was tremendous and reaffirmed that the language barrier may separate librarians and library staff, but somehow, our passions still shine through and we understand each other.

Lunch was at the Burebista restaurant – a Renaissance-themed restaurant with wait-staff dressed in period costume. Wild game and animals were stuffed and mounted on the walls. I felt like Robin Hood would gallop in any minute with a bloody deer thrown over his saddle… but, he never did. The menu included everything from wild-boar meatballs to duck livers and everything in-between. One of my hosts ordered a trout. It was one of the largest trout I had ever seen – and I promise – his eyeballs were staring at me. I got a photo of him. I ordered grilled chicken and country potatoes. Better safe than sorry. The menu and restaurant are based on the Romania before the Romans conquered. It was called Dacia and the people were called Daci (pronounced “Dutch”). The main automobile in Romania is the Dacia. The restaurant is across the street from the heavily guarded U.S. Embassy – our next stop.

Security to get inside the main U.S. Embassy complex was very tight. I was glad to see it. You have to have your paperwork cleared in advance before you can enter. And, although my hosts had done so, it was still misplaced – So, it was a case of “who do you know”. One phone call and an agent came down from the offices and secured our entrance. The name “Susan Pieper” had a lot of research attached to it. I’m glad my life hasn’t been too exciting and nothing was “flagged”. I had to leave my camera in security. You are not allowed to take photos of any of the embassies.

The U.S. Embassy is in a restored villa. Absolutely gorgeous with carved wooded staircase, marble inlaid walls, high ceilings with feline gargoyle accents. The U.S. Embassy is spread out throughout this area of Bucharest, so they are building a new embassy northeast of the city. This will help with security. The streets in Bucharest are narrow and congested and probably a security nightmare. Imagine taking all the traffic from L.A. and trying to put it on streets as narrow and curvy as Lombard Street in San Francisco. Now, imagine everyone trying to whiz by and pass. Now imagine cars parked on either side of the narrow road in any space they can fit. Now imagine pedestrians everywhere. Now, multiply that image by 100 and maybe you’ll have a picture of traffic in Bucharest.

My credentials were checked many times and my passport was left at the Marine checkpoint. I was issued a visitor’s badge and we proceeded to meet with the Deputy Chief of Mission, Jeri Guthrie-Corn. Her office is next to the U.S. Ambassador’s. Matter of fact, we had to sit and wait outside her office as she was meeting with the ambassador. His schedule was very busy. I wanted to pop in and say “hey” since he was from Alabama, but I guess you just don’t to that at a U.S. Embassy. Oh well. Meeting with Deputy Guthrie-Corn was an honor. She was very interested in hearing about my presentations to the rural librarians. She is aware of Biblionet and is a staunch supporter. We were running late and short on time, but I was honored to have been able to meet and talk with her.

On the way out I stopped at the Marine post to fetch my passport. I asked if I could have some sort of souvenir to remember my visit. He ended up selling me an awesome t-shirt designed by the Marine post and two U.S. Embassy in Romania coins. Cost me 40.00 American dollars – but he was so cute, how could I resist. The proceeds from selling these items helps fund the Marine Birthday Ball in November. The Marines are the oldest of our military branches. Each November they celebrate with a ball. The balls are staggered as other marines come in and take their place at the post so they can “party”. All embassy staff is invited in Bucharest, but most of the Marine Balls around the world are by invitation only. Dress blues and long gowns are the dress for the evening. Oh to be a fly on the wall. I felt my donation helped to serve my country – if only in the teeniest way.

We made it back just in time for me to begin the afternoon digital video conference. The session was the same as the morning – but with different audiences. The afternoon groups were truly from rural and isolated small libraries. They were a wonderful audience. I brought “cat in the hat” hats and gave them away as door prizes. They had no clue as to what a “door prize” was. What fun! I taught them how to use the hat as a story time hat – that when the hat was on, they had license to be crazy and silly. It was great!

Lots of laughter, lots of photo ops, even some autographs… tons of fun. I learned so much from them. That although the funding does not exist, for many, the passion does. Some libraries are vibrant community centers with strong children’s programs – but it is the result of volunteers and the library staff painting and spending their own funds. Many libraries are providing bare minimum services. One even has the books behind glass – to keep them from getting dusty. There is a great amount of work to be done in Romania’s small public libraries – but great potential. The seeds are planted and visionary programs are being implemented. I have great confidence that the Romania people will enjoy a strong public library system in a matter of a few years.

Other items of interest I discovered: They do not know “Goodnight Moon” by Brown. They do not know “Cat in the Hat” by Seuss, they do not have access to the wonderful variety of bookmarks we have in the U.S. through our library vendors. But they do have a heart for librarianship.

Niku brought me back to my hotel by 7:00 p.m. where I ordered room service and took a nap for a few hours. I’ll head back to bed now. It is 1:28 a.m. on Tuesday morning. I’ll still get about 5 hours sleep. Tomorrow I check out and head to Braila. Niku picks me up at 8:30 a.m.!