Books for Canada

‘Books for Canada’ is a project initiated by ‘Duiliu Zamfirescu’ County Public Library throughout Vrancea County, as a partner and founding member. The project is part of wider national and international initiative that aimed to set up a library with Romanian books in Montreal, Canada.

The project was initiated by an emigrant Romanian family in Canada and their family members who remained in Romania. Together they created the Cultural Initiative Foundation THE ROMANIAN LIBRARY in Montreal, Canada. Their desire was to create a Romanian library in Montreal to sustain our advocacy on the Canadian lands and to be close to the Romanian community.

To benefit of home support from Romanian people, the Council has involved personalities from the cultural-artistic world, choosing the actor Mircea Albulescu as an Honour President. With the help of these personalities there has been started as well the national campaign for promoting and advertising in order to lay the foundations for a donation of books and build up a library. Vrancea Public Library answered positively to the call for donations.

In order not to remain a singular gesture made by our institution, the library started in January- February 2011 a public campaign of book donation called ‘Books for Canada’ involving the whole community. The institution has recruited two libraries as partners in the project, which turned as point of purchase and collection of books, and attracted also other donor institutions.

There have been established several criterions and so to have a ‘quality’ donation. The answer of Vrancea community to our call was prompt and effective; over 500 copies of books that respected the criterions have been collected in this project.

The media communication strategy was the most important aspect and it has given major results. The project has been widely mediatized in the local and national press (through correspondents) and on-line (with the help of the volunteers and supporters of the library). With an intense correspondence with the initiators from Canada, who appreciated the media promotion and the campaign organization, the strategy of promoting attracted to designate our library as one of the three national centers of collecting books (spot made and aired by TVR1) along with Baia Mare and Bucharest. 

Also, with this involvement in the project, our library received the title of FOUNDING MEMBER of the Library from Montreal. (Our library received the DIPLOMA OF RECOGNITION as a FOUNDING MEMBER of THE LIBRARY and DEFENDER of the ROMANIAN CULTURE)

Within three weeks – during the first stage of the project – our library became the center of collection in the entire Moldavia region and beyond. There have been sent donations from Bucharest, Bacau, Braila, Piatra Neamt, Tulcea, Galati, Husi – donations that continue in present as well. In this project, our library attracted other two partners outside the county, who have expressed their desire of joining this endeavor: Sports High School Bacau – donated in the first stage 500 copies collected from the community from Bacau and the County Library Tulcea, in the second stage of the project.

The initiators desired that each copy donated to wear the original signature of the Donor, mentioning: ‘Book donated for the Romanian Library’, the label that promotes among the Romanian people from Canada, the library’s name and the person making the donation.

Each donation will be recorded in the BOOK OF HONOUR of the ROMANIAN LIBRARY, and as a sign of appreciation and gratitude, the Council awarded with a DIPLOMA OF RECOGNITION as a FOUNDING MEMBER of the LIBRARY and DEFENDER OF THE ROMANIAN CULTURE. 

The costs for expediting the books donation from Romania (Bucharest) to Canada were covered by the Cultural Foundation THE ROMANIAN LIBRARY. Vrancea Public Library carried on its own all donation and those coming from outside for the volunteer point of collecting from Bucharest. On 10^th of February, the books were carried to Canada and the first stage of the project came to an end. 

In present, our library collects donations coming constantly across the country to organize a new transport, which will be established by the partners from Canada.

1.      Vrancea Public Library and the librarians.

2.      Partner in the project – Alexandria book store, the national network

3.      The Probation Service

4.      Gheorghe Neagu and the Cultural Association ‘Duiliu Zamfirescu’ (Vrancea County writers)

·         Petre Abeaboeru

·         Buruiana Vasile

·         Culita Usurelu

·         Janine Vladislav

5.      ‘Universul Cartii’ Book Store, Focsani

6.      Vrancea County Blogosphere

7.      ‘Alexandru Ioan Cuza’ National College, Focsani

The coordinators in the high school:

·         Prof. Ioana Constantinescu, 7^th grade

·         Prof. Ana Maria Norocea, 8^th and 9^th grade

·         Alexandru Munteanu, the Youth Council President, within the Local Youth Council and the County Youth Council and Marius Condruz, ‘Mihail Kogalniceanu’ National Economic College President; from students of different high schools from Focsani: ‘Alexandru Ioan Cuza’ National College and ‘Mihail Kogalniceanu’ National Economic College.

8.      Sports High School from Bacau – teachers and students

·         Coordinator: Prof. David Diana Ruxandra

-          Approximately 600 copies

9.      ‘Simion Mehedinti’ Teacher Association and ‘Terra’ Publishing,  Focsani

10.  Prof. Irina Bicescu – ‘Unirea’ National College

11.  Priest Eduard Bran and his wife Adriana

12.  Priest Giorgica Vatra – ‘Sf.Andrei’ Focsani

13.  Florica Ghigeanu, Bucharest (sent)

14.  Nina Desliu, ’Pallas’ Publishing, Focsani

15.  Doctor Paul Alexandru, Focsani

16.  Prof. Cezar Cherciu, Focsani

Post Canada

17.  Prof. Ionut Tandara

18.  Mihai Horga, Roman, Neamt County

19.  Ioan Denciu, Focsani

20.  Oma Stanescu, Braila

21.  Titel Toader Chirila, Focsani

22.  Mihai Merticaru, Piatra Neamt

23.  Nina Plopeanu, Focsani

Online resources:

o   Ziarul de Vrancea: http://www.ziaruldevrancea.ro

o   Monitorul de Vrancea: http://www.monitorulvn.ro

o   DADA Radio: http://www.radiodada.ro

o   Adevarul de Seara Focsani: http://www.adevarul.ro/locale/focsani/

o   Realitatea TV Focsani: http://www.realitatea.net/carti-pentru-canada_803457.html

o   Iasi Radio: http://portal.radioiasi.ro/peste-500-de-carti-donate-in-campania-carti-pentru-canada-a53323.html

o   The Romanian Library from Canada: http://bibliotecaromaneasca.org/

o   Vrancea Blog: http://www.vrancea.com.ro/Blog/

o   Vrancea Today: http://vranpress.blogspot.com/

o   Vrancea Media: http://www.vranceamedia.ro/

o   http://evenimentefocsani.blogspot.com/2011/02/carti-pentru-canada-la-bilant.html

o   http://danyrolux.blogspot.com/2011/02/carti-pentru-canada-la-bilant.html

 Article written by Anamaria Cătănoiu – Coord. Foreign Language Center

Translated by Oana Zlatovici - volunteer

Reading Hedonism on Poetry Day

Today we celebrated the International Day of Poetry at the library, in a sunny enjoyable ambient

The writer Gheorghe Andrei Neagu released his latest poetry volume, ‘Love’s tear’, surrounded by friends from the Cenacle that he is coordinating, librarians all around Vrancea county and students from ‘Alexandru Ioan Cuza’ National College, Focsani.

Teodora Fintinaru, Vrancea County Library Director, has made a lyrical foray in the author’s poem, revealing the mysteries and meanings. Mariana Vicky Vartosu si Constanta Cornila recited a few poems from the author’s book, their friend. The author himself has exposed his thoughts and feelings when writing this book.

The most exciting moment was created by the kinds, the students who came to celebrate the poetry in its house, in a little cultural place, keeper of words and so of poetry. 14^th little readers delighted us with their serene voices. Goethe, Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Blaga, Stanescu, Voiculescu, Arghezi, Gheorghe Andrei Neagu sound differently when they recite. Furthermore, they went beyond their imagination creating collages including their favorite lyrics and poems with proper definitions given to the poetry. In the end, these children have received the released book with the author’s autograph, in gratitude. 

Everyone was excited, a moment that really betrays a ‘reading hedonism’, so to quote the coordinator of the children, Prof. Ana Maria Cornila Norocea, the one who guided and accompanied them in this poetic journey. Collaboration ideas were born between the two generations together to plant deeper the love for poetry of these young people and to fill a new and fresh spirit for those already initiated. 

Dante has written at entrance to dark land: ‘Abandon all hope, you who enter in here.’ Attempting timidly a lyrical metamorphosis, I would say: ‘Abandon all home, you those who enter on poetry land, because the beautifulness of the word will fetter you.’

Article written by Anamaria Cătănoiu – Coord. Foreign Language Center

Translated by Oana Zlatovici - volunteer

The International Day of Poetry at the Library

‘Duiliu Zamfirescu’ Public County Library marks the International Day of Poetry.

On this occasion our institution hosts the release of the poetry volume called ‘Tear Love’ written by Gheorghe Andrei Neagu, published by Rawexcoms, Bucharest, 2010.

The book boasts of a foreword by the literary critic Marius Chelaru, who begins the first page with: ‘A volume built as love tear in the autumn’s color, with nostalgia… A journey where the inside colors the exterior with the brush dipped in metaphors and argument in verse…’

We are honored to present this book written by Gheorghe Andrei Neagu, the founder of publications as Jurnalul de Vrancea (Vrancea Journal), Gazeta Vranceana (Vrancea Newspaper), Oglinda Moldovei (Moldavia’s Mirror) and Oglinda literara (Literary Mirror); the President of the Cultural Association ‘Duiliu Zamfirescu’ and also the holder of important awards for literature and cultural professionalism.

The release will be followed by a poetic moment realized by the students from ‘Alexandru Ioan Cuza’ National College, coordinated by Prof. Ana Maria Cornila Norocea and Melania Patrascanu, the Educative Advisor.

Along with our library, the International Day of Poetry will be also celebrated by municipal librarians, writers and readers from Vrancea.

For the same context, all the Library’s departments are preparing for the public, the International Poetry Book exhibition.

You are welcomed on Monday, 21^st of March, 11 o’clock, in the County Library’s reading room.  (Mr. Ghe. Sava Street, no.4)

Article translated by Oana Zlatovici - volunteer

‘Let’s Surf on the Internet’ at the Library

Yesterday, March 3, 2011, the National Campaign ‘Let’s Surf on the Internet’ - having Vrancea County Library as partner, continued with an "voluntary practice’ event in the Multimedia Room (located on: 4 Mr.Ghe. Sava Str.)

The multimedia rooms have been designated as telecentres for the National Campaign of digital literacy ‘Let’s Surf on the Internet’, sustained by EOS Foundation in partnership with Microsoft Unlimited Potential Programme and N.A.L.P.L.R – the National Association of the Librarians and Public Libraries in Romania.

Ran between 28^th of February and 5^th of March in various locations (City Hall Focsani, Vrancea Work Department and Multimedia Rooms of the Library), the Campaign ‘Let’s Surf on the Internet’ stopped yesterday at our new headquarters located on 4 Mr.Ghe. Sava Str.

The protagonists were 15 children from Danut Centre Brosteni, coordinated by Prof. Elisabeta Norocea and Jana Tigaeru, who have learnt from their elder friends the computer and internet secrets. 6 volunteer 9^th grade students, from ‘Alexandru Ioan Cuza’ National College, coordinated by Prof. Constanta Coatu and Melania Patrascanu, the Educative Advisor, have learnt the kids how to communicate on-line.
Emanuela-Teodora Manolache, Elena Raluca Jugaru, Ana-Maria Matei, Andrada Tania Panaite, Andra Corina Popa and Mirela Filimon, along with their teachers and the librarians, have helped friends from Brosteni to create an e-mail and messenger account to keep in touch with them.

The two hours spent in the Multimedia Room, who ended being not enough, were full of amusement, joy and agitation. The children recognized that most of them didn’t have a computer at home and that have surfed just a little ‘at Danut Centre…’. Otherwise.. sometimes at school. They were excited by the idea of communicating with other children, from another part of the country or perhaps outside the country. Through laughter and delicious cookies the accounts have been created and the communication on-line had its start! The high school volunteers created them a list of friends and the application was much practical when kids started to chat with each other.

What should we say? That we wanted, besides the campaign’s purpose, to socialize?  To make new friends?  To link sustainable relationships?

This meeting marked, among others, the beginning and the continuing of the real educative partnership between three institutions: the County Public Library, ‘Alexandru Ioan Cuza’ National College and Danut Center Brosteni, who desires to offer for the kids, educative and cultural alternatives.

The volunteers and the kids parted as friends, with promises from Prof. Norocea that they will come back to the Library, and promises from the volunteers and librarians to visit them at Danut Centre. We shared our ID messenger and e/mail addresses and with a lot of hugs and kisses, kids were hardly bear to go home.

The nicest part of the meeting was that the volunteer girls from the high school, the 6 wonderful girls, want to be permanent volunteers of the library and told to their fellows to come as well!

So basically… this is how new practical ideas and relationship get alive… at the library. Come on…to us! You can be practical! 

 

Article written by Anamaria Cătănoiu – Coord. Foreign Language Center

Translated by Oana Zlatovici - volunteer

The Free Humanitites Club

The “Duiliu Zamfirescu” Library from Vrancea – The Foreign Language Center, launches an educational project which covers didactic guidance for the pupils for the Baccalaureate exam at the philosophy and sociology disciplines.

The “Duiliu Zamfirescu” Library – The Foreign Language Center launches on Tuesday, 22 February, THE HUMANITIES CLUB, an educational project which targets high school pupils from Vrancea’s community.

The Humanities Club was initiated and coordinated by professor Adrian Țiglea who is a librarian from Vrancea’s Library. The Club is a module of specialized intellectual formation and of socialization for young men who want to go to a social science college.

The Club is free and it will be available weekly at the new Foreign Language Center headquarters on Mr. Gh. Sava Street, no. 4, on Tuesday between 14:30-16:00 for the philosophy discipline, and Wednesday between 13:00-14:00 for the sociology discipline.

“Having teaching experience, I advance the idea that I should familiarize the pupils with the philosophy and sociology disciplines like a didactic help method in order to prepare the exams for these subjects.”(Professor Adrian Țiglea).       

Translated by Liviu Dîrdală - volunteer            

The ages of classical music and Robert Schumann

The meeting scheduled on Tuesday, 27th of July, took place at 6 o’clock, a meeting organized by Mr.Ghe.Pastia’ for the good music amateur public. As usual, the Foreign Languages Centre has been the host.

The fourth meeting scheduled for July throughout ‘The ages of music’ project’ was marked by another composition side of Robert Schumann called CONCERTO.

In the beginning of the presentation made by Mr. Liviu Topala had pointed out a few small details about what a fantasy, an overture and a concerto means.

The Fantasy  - a free-form instrumental musical composition, with a sense of improvisation and virtuosity.

 The Overture – is linked as genre to opera, but is the the preamble (summary) of a work, which represent a specific theme,  played before.

The Concerto – is a work composed for one of more soloist instruments – written in three or four parts – in which is revealed the soloist virtuosity along with the orchestra.

Being all these presented, the public could listen to the first concerto called Concerto for four horns and orchestra, where Schumann appears as a creator of an unique melodica and harmonization.

Conducted by Brett Mitchell there have been listened fragments from Manfred opera, the success of the piece being to this real talented American conductor.

Being brilliant with the creation of his works melodica, Schumann writes a few concertos for cello, violin and piano.

Therefore, Concerto for cello and orchestra interpreted by Mischa Maisky and the Boston Symphonic Orchestra, brought again in the attention of the public, serious alternations along with other joyful, the cello being almost a human presence by its tonality.

One of Schumann’s masterpieces, Concerto for violin and orchestra, interpreted by the violonist Liviu Prunaru and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Bucharest, conducted by Cristian Mandeal, have given measure to the art hard to express both by instruments and for the conductor.

Schumann composes for orchestra because of his great love – his wife Clara Schumann, who saw the music and everything that means musical creation, through the great composers of that time: Beethoven, Brahms.

For piano he written a work in three parts, initially presented by Clara as musical fantasy. After four years of working, modifying and a lot of dedication, the fantasy becomes Concerto for piano and orchestra in A minor. Interpreted by Daniel Barenboim and conducted by Sergiu Celibidache the concerto meant the ending of the Tuesday evening, a time when we would have liked the local press to be present as well.

You are welcome on Tuesday, 3rd of August 2010, at 6 o’clock, same location, last meeting with Robert Schumann (referent Carmen Cazaciuc)

Article translated by Oana Zlatovici - volunteer

‘The ages of music’ at the second meeting

The evening of Tuesday, 20th of July 2010 was again offered by the ‘Mr.Ghe.Pastia’ Popular Athenaeum for the classical music lovers.

As usual, 6 o’clock was the time of the meeting between the guests and our host- The Foreign Languages Center – which again was happy and welcoming towards its guests.

The musical moments offered last evening within the Ages of music project were a few chapters from the chamber music composed by Robert Schumann.

 The specific compositions signed by Schumann is that the piano, as an accompaniment instrument, is equal, during the play, with the instrument for which it was composed.

All five works for the music chamber presented together with video images completed this chapter really appreciated by the audience, last evening.

There have been works interpreted by major artists: Antonio Tinelli (Italy)  - clarinet, present a few years ago on the stage at the ‘Mr.Ghe.Pastia’ Popular Athenaeum, Martha Argerich (Argentina) – piano and Mauricio Vallina (Cuba) – piano, Helene Grimaud (France) – piano, R. Capruçon (France) – piano and many other instrumentalists from Japan, Lithuania and Norway.

The three romances for the wind instruments were interpreted by saxophone, flute and oboe with piano as accompaniment, awaking the interest for the audience for this kind of Schumann’s specific works.

The piece for two pianos and three other instruments – two cellos and a horn – has given some color, being compared with musical mathematics, as strict and precise as warm, giving a special mood.

The concluding piece of audition and presentation evening, Piano Quintet – the most important chamber work of Schumann – in four parts (a slow one and other three moving) was piano interpreted, violin I, violin II , viola and cello by major artists of the world. 

On 27th of July, same hour, 6 o’clock, we again invite at the Foreign Languages Centre to present you other works of Robert Schumann, full of great rafinement both compositional and interpretative. (referent Carmen Cazaciuc)

Article translated by Oana Zlatovici - volunteer

‘The ages of music’ has no age

On Tuesday, 13^th of July 2010, 6 o’clock, by the ‘Mr.Gh..Pastia’ Popular Athenaeum’s initiative and the goodwill of the Foreign Languages Center, there has been held a special artistic event which fitted perfectly in the cultural life of the city even though this is the holiday season.

The chosen place and the audience allowed commemorating the composer and pianist, Robert Schumann, one of the leaders of the German romanticism of the nineteenth century’s beginning.

The project, started this year, on July, by the ‘Mr.Gh.Pastia’ Popular Athenaeum, is called ‘The Ages of music’- auditions and presentations and aims to meet weekly with those interested in good music.

The first part of the project marked Schumann’s personality, whose birth we celebrate this year 200 years from. 

Schumann, the composer and his work were marked by auditions and presentations of several voice clips and piano interpretations of great exception. Thus, the public has experienced special moments hearing and seeing the great pianist Vladimir Horowitz, Ukrainian-born American musician, Helen Grimaud – piano and Thomas Quasthoff - baritone.

It was, therefore, an hour and a half of music and information about the life and the artistic work of Robert Schumann, while the public – adults and youth, could find out what an artistic work and a lied means.

So, every Tuesday in July, we are welcoming everyone who is interested in classical music, at the same hour – 6 o’clock - in the same warm and welcoming place, the Foreign Languages Center.

Translated by Oana Zlatovici - volunteer