Foreign Language Center - Vrancea County Library

The Foreign Language Center was set up in May 2008, after the completion of a one-year and a half international book donation project of sixteen book tones, shared among three county public libraries from Romania. It is the only center of the kind in Vrancea and its activity covers cultural, social, and educational fields and community involvement. The center benefits from the support of generous volunteers, sponsors and donors which sustain the role of the library in the community.

Friday, November 4, 2011

The Librarian of the Year from Vrancea at the Education Awards 2011

Just me

I found myself among the finalists when I expected less or not at all. I candidate for the Education Awards organized by ‘Dinu Patriciu’ Foundation. I tried my luck for ‘The librarian of the year’ section, as I represent ‘Duiliu Zamfirescu’ Vrancea County Public Library, where I have been working for eight years, and…

It is the third year since ‘Dinu Patriciu’ Foundation from Bucharest organizes these Education Awards at a national level, on different sections: The Teacher of the Year, The School of the Year, The NGO of the Year etc., trying to promote people, institutions, and projects, truly special. It is a commendable project that promotes values that are often hiding behind ordinary people.

It is the second year when the application is available for The Librarian of the Year and for the first time, I must admit, since I gave importance to this event. I applied for it, so to say, with the left hand… I didn’t think I could win. I didn’t even imagine I could pass the first stage – The eligible candidates – letting alone the fact that I reached the second stage – The finalists, and giving an interview for the jury in Bucharest and participate in the Awards.

The epic – briefly. I looked on the Foundation’s website: http://www.premiileineducatie.ro/, I created an account and read the contest rules. I completed a form with 5-6 questions, presenting my activity for 2010-2011. I sent the form on-line, but I also had to send it ‘on paper’, signed, having attached all the materials proving my activities: pictures, newspaper articles, website and blog links, PowerPoint presentations, impressions from the readers or volunteers, etc. The period for subscription lasted a few months, from 15^th of June to 27^th of September.

Short inserts taken from the website of the Foundation, with the agreement of the organizers:
1. Feedback for the participants

Dear participants of the Education Awards 2011,

The fact that you subscribed for the Education Awards, demonstrating that you met and even exceeded the eligibility criteria – a little bit ‘unorthodox’ as some would say – classify you from the start as being passionate for education. How else would you have dared to go through a registration procedure, consuming time and energy that asked you to write all your activities during the year and gather materials in order to demonstrate all your words? That’s why you deserve from the start - ‘Congratulations!’

Yesterday, 27^th of September 2011, was the last day for completing the forms for the contest – The 3^rd edition of the Education Awards. Most of you, kept us curious until the very last moment…thinking that you will not be able to finish your subscription number of closed accounts and forms filed has been tripled. We are really sorry if you gotthe answers to your questions later than we wanted…Many requests have come in the last hundred meters.

Then, there has been a period of jury, (28^th of September - 22^nd of October) when the candidates have been chosen, meaning those who had met the requirements for the contest and had all their folders complete and correct. Out of 23 there have been chosen 10 candidates.

Short inserts taken from the website of the Foundation, with the agreement of the organizers:
2. Eligible candidates for the Education Awards 2011

Today, 11^th of October, we announce the names of the candidates declared eligible for the 3^rd edition of the Education Awards contest. Those who find their names on the published list are those who met all the eligible criteria and respected the procedure of subscription (complete the form online, send it also, signed, at ‘Dinu Patriciu’ Foundation Office until 27^th of September, the Post date, send the materials proving the candidate until 7^th of October).

The form for the contest of the eligible candidates will be evaluated by the members of the Jury according to the evaluating criterions posted here.

After this stage, the Jury will name the finalists of each section of the contest. All of them will be announced on 17^th of October 2011, in the afternoon, on the website of the contest: www.premiileineducatie.ro.

3. The finalists for the 3^rd edition of Education Awards

Today, 17^th of October, the Education Awards announce the finalists for the 3^rd edition. These are the candidates chosen who – after the on-line evaluation of the forms made by the members of the Jury – received the highest grades for the section they applied for. All those who find their names on the list are asked to come for the interview which will take place in Bucharest between 22-23 October, as it follows:

- 22^nd of October: the finalists for the Student of the Year, The University Teacher of the Year, The Pre university Teacher of the Year, The Educator/Elementary school Teacher of the Year, The NGO of the Year in the field of education and The Best Educational Project
- 23^rd of October: the finalists for The Student of the Year, The Researcher of the Year and the Librarian of the Year.

All of us took the interview on 23^rd of October at the Faculty of History from Bucharest, with the following members of the Jury: Gilda Drăgănescu, the winner of the 1^st prize of the last year; Dragoș Neagu, Vice – President of ANBBPR (The Association of the Librarians and Public Libraries) from Romania, and the Director of Brăila County Library; Andrei Roșca, founder of Bookblog – the most important website about books from Romania; Cristian Lupșa, publisher from Decât o Revistă (Just a magazine) and Cătălin Ștefănescu Realizator TVR, who couldn’t be present and has been replaced.

I found the interview as being easy. I wasn’t nervous about it. Even though, in the beginning, I lost myself for a few seconds, I think I succeeded this stage. If I’m wrong…Anyway, the jury wasn’t there to hammer us but they were opened for a normal discussion, as it should be. After the interview we took some pictures for the catalogue of the contest. I think all the finalists will be there with their success stories, but anyway, it has been a lot of fun to feel V.I.P for a few minutes!

In the same time, after announcing the finalists, there has been created a web page on the Foundation website, where to promote our activity and receive votes from our supporters, until 30 of October: http://www.premiileineducatie.ro/gpo/finalist/anamaria-catanoiu/

It is the first year when this kind of supporting is introduced. As we were told, the number of the votes has no influence in taking the final decision.

Short inserts taken from the website of the Foundation, with the agreement of the organizers:

4. This year at the Education Awards, the public names the most popular 11 finalists

Today,20^th of October 2011, there has been launched the online platform for voting the finalists for the Education Awards – 2011 Edition. This will be available between 20-30 October, and for voting, the option is for the whole public. The 92 finalists of the 11 sections of the contests are present on this platform along with an individual profile aiming to inform the voting public about the most relevant aspects of each candidate.

The number of votes will name for each section a winner – who will receive the Popularity prize, without any link to the prize consisting of money offered by the Education Awards as an evaluation of the Jury, based on the announced criteria in here:

For the votes, the procedure is pretty fast and simple. Those who want to vote have to create an account on http://www.premiileineducatie.ro/gpo/ and the log in. Immediately after, there can be voted a candidate to each of the 11 sections. After voting, the account can be used exclusively for commenting or contacting the finalists.

The voting platform for popularity was launched for encouraging the finalists to promote their work supplementary.

This is the website for the finalists of The Library of the Year section: http://www.premiileineducatie.ro/gpo/finalisti/bibliotecarul-anului/

Here you find out all the other sections: http://www.premiileineducatie.ro/gpo/.

It was an interesting experience, mostly the one with giving votes, because the supporters could post comments and send private messages on the account created on the website of the Foundation. Actually, for me this counted the most and I have considered myself already a winner. Most of those who voted me I don’t even know then and I think they are not even from Vrancea. Of course, the supporters were primarily my friends, my family, the volunteers from the library and my working colleagues and … my friends from other countries. Here, I offer you some of the messages that simply made me cry:

- You’re such a sweetie… and for all your work you really DESERVE to win… as my vote goes to you and you got all my respect.

- Congratulations for everything you do! Whatever it will be, you’re a winner! Good luck!

- Good luck, Ana! You really deserve it! Bring another prize for our library! TF

- I was born in Adjud, in Vrancea County, and there is no other thought but of course to vote you! Good luck!

- Hi Ana, I did it :)) It was pleasure for me to vote for you. Can you let me know the result! Good lucks... Warmly, Dilek

- I vote you because you are the BEST!

- It has been my pleasure to take one moment and vote for you. Keep up with the good work and stay focused on your future goals. I have no doubt you can get the job done much better than anyone else.

- God keep you, Ana! Good Luck!!!

- Good, good luck… I really am happy that you applied for it and that you are one of the finalists.

- Good luck, Anna, I’m really happy that you’re one of the finalists!

- I tried to vote but I'm not sure. Good luck. Muhsin DİLBAZ

For all of those who supported me I sent them a message (I had this possibility as well from my account) that I thought represent me at the best:

Thank you with all my soul for supporting me! It counts enormously that I am on this position. I never thought, but I did it. On the evening of the Awards I’ll be thinking of you and if I’ll be one of the winners I’ll thank you, LIVE. The Awards will be shown on TV and can be watched as well on-line. That’s true, one swallow doesn’t make a summer, but is the most beautiful and optimistic beginning. THE SUN RISES EVERY DAY… Ana.

And I really believed and told these simple words with all my soul.

On the 2^nd of October, the big even took place, The Education Awards, when the winners have been announced for each section. The event was held at the Union Chamber of the Parliament Palace and it was transmitted on-line on the website of the http://www.premiileineducatie.ro. There has been three prizes, the main prizes, the classics: the 1^st, the 2^nd and the 3^rd prize and this year there has been introduced the Popularity Prize (based on the online voting), to encourage the finalists to promote their work supplementary.

Short insertions taken from the website of the Foundation with the agreement of the organizers:
5. The Education Awards has chosen the winners for the 3^rd edition

On Wednesday, in the evening, there have been announced the winners for the 3^rd edition of the Education Awards. This event is an annual project initiated by ‘Dinu Patriciu’ Foundation aiming to identify and reward the best examples from the field of education – people, institutions and organizations which – through dedication, originality and passion – contribute to the development of the Romanian school.

This year, The Education Awards offered a prizes totaling 250.000 Euro. Each winner received a diploma and also a prize whose value varied, depending on each section, between 2.000 and 30.000 Euro.

Along with the members of the jury, who presented the awards, there have been also one of the former Presidents of Romania, Emil Constantinescu, the TV presenter, Melania Medeleanu, Radu Gologan – the President of Society of Mathematical Science președintele, Alexandru Mironov – the senior editor of the Science and Technology magazine and Adela Jansen – The executive director for human resources at BRD Société Générale.

Here there are the names of the winners and their prizes:

The librarian of the year:
1.Maria Grancea, The City Library Avrig – Sibiu, 10.000 euro;
2.Claudia Popescu, ‘George Barițiu’ County Library - Brașov, 5.000 euro;
3.Elena Chiaburu, The University Library of the Faculty of Economy and Business Administration, ‘Al. I. Cuza’ University - Iași, 2.000 euro.

Therefore, as you can read, the event was attended by all the finalists from each section, the members of the jury, V.I.Ps, all having a strong connection with… education. All of us walked on the red carpet of the Parliament’ stairs and entered in a room where, for four hours, as long as the ceremony lasted, I admired the wonderful architectural setting. At the entrance we took pictures and on the table we found the catalogue with all the finalists and their success story (the catalogue can be found, I think, also on the website of the Foundation).

The event was opened by the President of the Foundation, Dinu Patriciu, who gave 6 awards of recognition for the contribution to the Romanian educational system development.

Then, it followed the awards for popularity. Then, step by step, the awards for each category of the contest given by a representative of the jury and a very famous name from the public life For the section ‘The Librarian of the Year’ these awards have been given by Cristian Lupșa, publisher for Decât o Revistă (Just a magazine). The emotions were really high, but each winner talked beautiful.

The thing that impressed me the most, a little detail that many people might have omitted was the natural alignment of the social categories. There stayed next to each other ordinary people, next to people…less ordinary: students, city librarians, village librarians, teachers from the village, researchers, presidents and directors etc.,all equal in opportunities, each with honors and achievements worthy of recognition and praise.

For me, the most important was not the prize but the experience, the beauty of the competition, people’s love. I demonstrated myself that I can and that I have around me a gold mine: friends. The participation to this event was the best thing. The place, the ambient, the people…a real gift for Christmas! In life the material gain is not everything… and yet…

Why do we forget or ignore the simple things? Why do we always forget or ignore simple people? Why do we ignore or forget about simple words?

P.S. No comment…

(04.11.2011 10:54:02): Anyway, CONGRATULATIONS!

(04.11.2011 11:09:52): OUR CONRATULATIONS FOR SOMEONE WITH THE HEAD UP!

(04.11.2011 11:38:34): Congratulations, Anuța! It is extraordinary that you got in there, the award is not only about your professionalism but for how well you manage to ‘sell’ yourself … walk your road, ‘cause it’s the good one!!! For us, you're the best
(04.11.2011 17:48): You already know my opinion….You are a fighter and because of this you’re a winner. Congratulations and keep going!

THANKS, ALL OF YOU MY DEAR FRIENDS, BECAUSE YOU ARE HERE, IN MY WORLD!

Written by Anamaria Cătănoiu – Foreign Languages Centre Coordinator

Translated by Oana Zlatovici - volunteer

The Union Room for the Awards

A buffet at the entrance

The banner of the Awards

The Parliament

The Union Room

The finalists row

Me, smiling

Dinu Patriciu, president of the Foundation

The presenters

President Adevărul Holding

Emil Constantinescu, former Romanian President

Alexandru Mironov

The Education Awards catalogue

Me, in the Education Awards catalogue

The finalists from the Librarian of the Year section

Cristian Lupsa, editor Decât o Revistă

Me, on the Parliament House stairs

The same place

The Joy of lex

Author: Gyles Brandreth

Published: 1980

Category: Education

The joy of Lex is a unique book! Who knows what edition it has reached since the 80’s until now? Gyles Brandreth is a top editorialist in Great Britain and the United States, a media figure with an Oxford degree and with tens of Scrabble and Monopoly championships in his file. His book, which stole his personality, asked me to simply grab it from the shelf. Brandeth is accomplished... a real word freak and he is incredible in the linguistic domain as well as the cultural one, and the book will surely be well received by English enthusiasts.

The work moves away from what we call “scientific”; it is very different from a treaty, being more of a linguistic compendium in which the reader can enjoy more than 800,000,000 words. The dynamics and games are perfectly combined to nullify the boredom and to create that acquired repugnance towards the “profile books”. Puzzles, games, crosswords, American English vs. British English, rhymes and verses, palindromes, euphemisms, virtual poetry, funny illustrations, sayings and slang elements are some of all the linguistic elements which wait to be discovered by a reader which has the sense of humor and curiosity!

There is no doubt that you will have fun, that you will relax, that you will laugh at the fine humor and that you will be amazed at the craft with which 860,341,500 word – (a BIG number!), were gathered and made fun with.

Who would overlook sayings like: Save water-bathe with a friend, funeral=real fun, or the newer elements of flemglish? I wouldn’t want to miss anything from this book, especially because after a full chapter you will begin to wonder, in English of course: “Is God a woman?”

By reading it, you will gain a lot…that is if you can resist the laughter.

Enjoy!

Beatrice Stoinescu

Student

Franco-Romanian Judicial College, Bucharest

How we were born

At the end of the year 2003 I was in Romania several times as a tourist. I visited all the areas between Bran and Bucharest and all the Monasteries in Moldavia. I also continued to search for information about Romania on the internet. I found out that some volunteers from the Peace Corp are active in Romania and that some of them are teaching English in schools and high schools in different corners of the country. Having a native speaker helps a lot with the process of learning a foreign language – for the teacher as well as the student. But the lack of materials represents a problem. Books in English are expensive and the budgets are low, especially in the rural areas where most of the volunteers teach.

And so I started to send packages with books to the libraries of the schools where I had made contact with the volunteers. In a few years, I’ve sent thousands of books to tens of schools in Romania through my NPO, “A Thousand Books” from St. Louis, Missouri, USA. I received a similar request for a donation from volunteer Eric Bleich, who was working at the Vrancea County Library. The first package contained approximately 40 children’s books and Eric said that the librarians were very pleased with both the physical quality and the content.

That was how the idea (I can’t remember if it was mine or Eric’s) of sending a bigger volume of books was born. Until that moment we hadn’t sent more than two or three boxes to the schools from which we had received requests, but we’re talking about a container of several tons. I told Eric that such a quantity could be shared with other libraries in the country if they could manage to obtain financing for shipping. Otherwise, the books wouldn’t cost a thing. They were donated. And so, the project was born.

Eric and Anamaria Catanoiu, from the Vrancea County Library, presented the project at the National Library Conference at Galati in 2006. Although more libraries were initially interested in participating, the financial aspects of the project limited the final list to these three libraries: The County Library “Duiliu Zamfirescu” from Vrancea, represented by Eric and Anamaria, The County Library “Petre Dufu” from Baia Mare-the American Corner section, represented by the librarians Lia Sabau and Adina Doroltan and The Library of Bucovina “I.G. Sbiera” from Suceava, represented by its Director, Gabriel Carabus. The management of the project was in the hands of Eric and Anamaria. This included the responsibilities of ensuring the books were shipped, dealing with customs, and communicating with the other two libraries.

My job was in America. I had to find thousands of books and a storage place for such a big quantity. And that’s not all: the domains of interest were clearly specified and also they should be interesting, to have a good physical appearance and not to be outdated in order to be really useful and that made my task even more difficult because I felt that I should verify by hand every book to make sure they met the conditions. I’ve done by myself all the work of gathering and arranging. For six months I’ve traveled all around the region to gather the books. Fortunately, in America there are churches and organizations that donate books or sell them at a very low price. They’ve allowed me to choose the best ones. This way I managed to gather quite a big quantity that overcame my expectations and also the librarians’. I hadn’t had the opportunity to weigh the books before sending them (which represented the final request) and what I thought weighed 5 tons, showed up to weigh 16 tons in Romania.

In Romania, Anamaria and Eric were also confronting big bureaucratic problems to finalize the customs papers, to convince the authorities in the port that it is a donation which was tax exempt and to pick up the books from the port along with the other two libraries and to transport them to their destination. Fortunately, the customs commissioner company which handled the transport and the formalities, RCS Comisionar SA from Bucharest, represented by Camelia Guță, constantly collaborated with Eric and Anamaria and that assured the well-being of the project. It took over one year from the initial proposition for the donation until the press conference that announced the end of the project, and the 16 tons of books, equally divided between the participating libraries, were at their destination. At the conference, almost all the involved partners participated whom also explained the idea behind this enormous effort: the money which every library has donated to the project wouldn’t have been enough to buy in Romania not even 1% of the whole bunch that they benefited from. And the quality of the books was appreciated as exceptional from all the points of view! The work of the American partner was over. Now the libraries were beginning a new important stage, that of introducing the books into circulation in order to be utilized by the readers. But a stage of this type needs time. To process 5 tons of books, takes some time…several months or more. The idea of continuity for the project was put to discussion from the very beginning. Once entered into circulation, these books are bound to be put under a special regime of inter-library exchange which will permit the rotation or the borrowing of English books between the three libraries in order to offer the readers a rich palette of documents.

For the County Library of Vrancea, this project meant an important enrichment of the English book collection and was the premise for the establishment of a Library of books in a foreign language which will sustain the educational and cultural process through specific activities.

Despite the fact that for many this project may not seem that big, or the fact that the domain doesn’t represent that much interest, it must be mentioned that it is the first project of this type at a national level because of the quantity of books, on one hand, and because of the involved partners on the other hand. It is the first real example of collaboration and common action between county libraries from Romania and also the first one that proposed the creation of a professional mini-network that works with foreigners. We hope that the positive result will encourage other libraries, as well, to develop similar projects in the benefit of the community that they serve.

All who are interested for more details regarding this project can consult the presentation film created by John Korst, the President of the American organization, with the aid offered by Anamaria Catanoiu at this site.

“A Thousand Books”:
www.AThousandBooks.us

John Korst – president “A Thousand Books” USA
Anamaria Cătănoiu – coordinator Foreign Language Center

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Friday, November 4, 2011

The Librarian of the Year from Vrancea at the Education Awards 2011