The event Film in libraries. Libraries in film continues an endeavour initiated in 2022 through which the One World Romania Association is promoting libraries as cultural hubs, through the project Docs at the Library.
As every year, the project returns to International Documentary & Human Rights Film Festival One World Romania, and for this edition it proposes an extended talk about the programs that libraries currently offer for various communities, starting from the example of the New York Public Library, portrayed by the renowned documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman in Ex Libris: The New York Public Library.
The event takes place on April 11, from 11:30 AM, at Union Cinema (21 Ion Câmpineanu Street, Bucharest), and the screening of the film will be followed by a discussion with special guests. Attendance is free of charge, but limited to availability. We recommend booking a free seat in advance through Eventbook.
Speakers: Dragoș Adrian Neagu (President of ANBPR – The National Association of Librarians and Public Libraries in Romania, Manager of the "Panait Istrati" Brăila County Library); Ioana Crihană (ANBPR Executive Director, former journalist, experienced copywriter, advertising consultant); Lector univ. dr. Robert Coravu (Faculty of Letters, University of Bucharest). The talk will be moderated by journalist Alexandra Florescu.
With the help of our guests we will discuss about the roles that libraries can have in and for communities, as well as the activities they can currently undertake to engage with audiences of all ages and to support dialogue and lifelong learning. The documentary takes an inspiring and kaleidoscopic look at one of the world's largest libraries and in particular at its programs and events designed for various communities. Offering workshops and lectures on specialized topics as well as general information services, the New York Public Library reveals itself as a revitalised forum that has not been replaced by digital tools, but has learned to use them to the benefit of its visitors.
Ex Libris: The New York Public Library (USA, 2017, 197 min) goes behind the scenes of one of the greatest knowledge institutions in the world and reveals it as a place of welcome cultural exchange and learning. With 92 locations throughout Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island, the library is committed to being a resource for all the inhabitants of this multifaceted and cosmopolitan city, and beyond. The Library strives to inspire learning, advance knowledge and strengthen communities.
The film will be screened with Romanian subtitles. The talk will take place in Romanian.
Bios:
Dragoş Adrian Neagu has been a member of ANBPR since 1995, and is currently serving his second term as president of this organization. The National Association of Librarians and Public Libraries in Romania, a public utility association, aims to support the professional interests of librarians from public libraries, having an uninterrupted activity of 34 years. At this moment, it has over 3300 members and 37 branches nationally. Since 1998, he has held the position of deputy director of the Brăila "Panait Istrati" County Library, and since 2007 he has been the director of this institution. He is a graduate of the "Lower Danube" University in Galați, and a PhD in management from the "Lucian Blaga" University in Sibiu.
Ioana Crihană is working, for more than 20 years, in various leadership positions in highly competitive business entities: a government institution, a national newspaper, a well-known Romanian Branding & Advertising Agency, a multinational ICT corporation and in the most representative National Library Association in Romania - ANBPR. Getting involved in several development projects, Ioana Crihană has expertise in creating, restructuring and revitalizing different products, services and organizational structures, and, also, in the implementation of some business plans and strategies for sustainability, both in private and institutional environments.
Robert Coravu is Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Letters of the University of Bucharest and lecturer in the Department of Communication Sciences, chair of Information and Documentation Sciences. PhD in Philology (2012), with a thesis on contemporary university libraries. He was deputy director general of the Central University Library "Carol I" (2003-2011) and secretary general of the Romanian Library Association (2003-2009). As advisor to the Minister of Culture and Religious Affairs (2001-2003), he contributed to the drafting of Law no. 334/2002 - Library Law.
Alexandra Florescu has worked for nearly ten years in marketing and PR in the publishing industry, seeking new solutions, channels and contexts for promoting the pleasure of reading. For the past two years, she has been writing about films and TV series for Scena9 and Films in Frame.
Docs at the Library takes a bold step to increase the media and image literacy skills of the general public, with documentary film as teaching material. At the same time, the project represents a long-term effort to enrich the work of public libraries, activating them as cultural hubs and signalling their usefulness as accessible nodes of knowledge.
Docs at the Library is a cultural project co-financed by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund.
Partners: Mediawise Society, KineDok România, Biblioteca Județeană „Ion Heliade Rădulescu” Dâmbovița, Biblioteca Județeană „Ștefan Bănulescu” Ialomița, Biblioteca Județeană „G.T. Kirileanu” Neamț, Biblioteca Județeană „Marin Preda” Teleorman
The project does not necessarily represent the position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project, nor for the manner in which the results of the project might be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the beneficiary of the grant.
