"Donate a New Book, Save an Old Library!" is the latest action within the "Ten Libraries Rated 10" campaign, launched by the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania. This initiative aims to provide educational resources to students in schools and high schools nationwide, promoting the importance of functional libraries.
Open to individuals and organizations intending to do a good deed during the holidays, the action involves collecting new books (dictionaries, encyclopedias, personal development books, school reading books, as well as fiction) for students in grades I-IX. These volumes will not only contribute to students' education but also rejuvenate libraries across Romania, transforming them into authentic sources of inspiration and information. The donated books will find their place on the new shelves of the ten winning libraries of the competition organized by FDVDR from November 15, 2023, to February 15, 2024.
The "Ten Libraries Rated 10" campaign and the "Donate a New Book, Save an Old Library!" action were initiated following an analysis of Romania's library situation: while there were 20,773 libraries in 1989, by the end of 2012, the number had halved to 10,386. Last year, the number further decreased to only 8,372. The lack of investments and allocation of new book funds prompted the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania to conduct a survey among representatives of schools and high schools nationwide.
The results show that the majority of school libraries are in an unsatisfactory state, with many of them completely lacking resources. The existing book supply consists mostly of old volumes, highlighting a critical need for new books.
According to the FDVDR survey, in many locations, authorities haven't allocated any funds for school libraries for over 20 years. As a result, 12% of educational institutions have no library at all, 29% are in a disastrous state, only 13% are in good or very good condition. The same statistics reveal that about a third of libraries have fewer than 100 books, another third have between 100 and 1000 books, while only 20% have between 1000 and 10,000 books, and 19% have over 10,000 books.
How to donate books
Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania invites the general public to get involved by donating new books, dedicated to students in grades I-XII. The books donated, in the FDVDR campaign, will be used to equip 10 school libraries, which will also receive modern furniture and decorations. New books can be sent by post to the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania, str. Dr. Grigore Mora, nr. 11, București, POSTAL CODE: 011885. For donations of more than 50 books, Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania will ensure their transport. More details about the campaign on fundatiadanvoiculescu.ro.
