In Dolj County, most libraries in rural areas and small towns are not merely places where people borrow books; they are striving to adapt to the needs of local communities, acting as centres of culture, education and social inclusion. Two such examples are the Plenita Communal Library and the Mircea Radina Town Library in Segarcea, among the oldest libraries in the county, run with dedication by committed individuals who face both the challenges of the digital age and limited budgets.

'The Plenita Communal Library has been operating since 1937, in the former Cultural Centre built in 1928, under the leadership of Romanian language teacher Ion Matei. In 1938, the library held 3,500 volumes by Romanian and foreign authors. As a public library, it plays an important role in the communities it serves, alongside other public services that contribute to users' personal development through lifelong formal education and activities carried out after school hours,' Alina Chirila, the library's sole employee, told AGERPRES.

With a current collection of 12,443 volumes covering diverse fields — Romanian and world literature, history, geography, and science — the library serves 550 active readers, most of them children and young people.

'Our library is not just a place for reading; it is a space where the community meets, socialises and learns. We organise cultural and educational events for all ages, from themed readings and artistic activities for children to digital skills courses for adults,' explained librarian Alina Chirila.

Among the most borrowed and sought-after books are those by J.K. Rowling, Jeff Kinney, John Boyne and Erin Hunter. Works by modern Romanian authors such as Liviu Rebreanu, Camil Petrescu, George Calinescu and Hortensia Papadat-Bengescu are also in demand, along with atlases, encyclopaedias and educational books. The library has recently benefited from digital equipment funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), transforming it into a digital learning hub for the community.

'A wide range of cultural activities have been organised at our library, where pupils were engaged in reading sessions, drawing, and creative computer games. We explained how important it is to read for pleasure and how to engage with texts, developing diverse reading practices,' Chirila added.

Technological competition, which draws young people towards phones and tablets, is one of the challenges brought by the digital age. In addition, rural libraries face limited budgets for acquiring new books. Despite this, interest in reading is growing in Plenita, and success stories of children discovering the joy of reading confirm the value of a library in rural communities.

'One experience that deeply marked me was when a girl, who rarely came to the library due to her disability, told me she wanted to read but didn't know where to start. I began recommending books suited to her age and tastes and discussed the stories with her. Over time, I saw her transform — she became more confident, spoke more easily and talked about the books she had read. That moment made me realise how important the library is in a community — not just about books, but about people, inspiring curiosity and building confidence,' Chirila recalled.

She says that interest in reading in rural communities has increased in recent years, as young people have begun to realise that reading remains one of the most intense and educational activities, with early engagement bringing lasting benefits in language, communication and socialisation.

'Even though so many electronic sources of information have appeared, books are still recognised as the best means of learning. It is essential for young people to read for pleasure and understand texts. Reading is not just about books or school assignments, but about discovering new worlds, understanding people and learning to think freely. Every book is a chance to travel without leaving your place, to dream and to find answers to questions you didn't even know you had. By reading, we discover who we are and who we could become — and that is a gift no technology can take away,' Chirila said.

The Plenita library also serves as a meeting place for different social groups, offering free internet access. Some people without means come to the library to communicate with family members working abroad.

Alina Chirila envisions the future library as a space combining physical and digital resources, with modernised collections, digital facilities and more spacious, brighter study rooms.

'For a library to continue its activity, support from local authorities is necessary. Improving the relationship between the library and its users, as well as teamwork, can help librarians perform better in their interaction with users and in various projects. Community involvement and support for librarians can turn the library into more than a place for reading — a true heart of the community,' she added.

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In Segarcea, the Mircea Radina Town Library has been operating since 1923 and now holds 40,303 volumes covering all fields. It has only one employee — the cleaning staff — while librarian duties are delegated to Razvan Andronache, a cultural inspector within the mayor's office.

'In 1923, the Mircea Radina Town Library was established at the initiative of members of the Dolj Student Centre. It was initially called the Ferdinand I Communal Library, and after the locality was declared a town in 1968, it became the Segarcea Town Library. In 2000, at the initiative of the library staff, the Local Council decided to name it after writer Mircea Radina, a native of the town,' Razvan Andronache told AGERPRES.

Despite facing similar challenges — such as the migration of children from books to phones and computers — the library plays a central role in the town's cultural life. It hosts book launches, reading circles, performances and drawing exhibitions. It also collaborates closely with the Cultural Centre and the Segarcea Technological High School, organising numerous activities for pupils.

'We have a very good collaboration with the high school through partnerships with teachers and educators. For example, the first activity of the year was a drawing and poetry exhibition for National Culture Day. Throughout the year, we organised reading days, conferences, competitions between classes and visits to the library, where we discussed various topics depending on the students' age,' Andronache said.

Recent topics included bullying among younger pupils and career choices for older students. Another discussion addressed 'cancel culture' and 'woke' phenomena, introducing students to concepts they encounter daily but often do not understand.

'They hadn't heard of these concepts, even though they encounter them every day. We explained what they mean, where they come from and how to identify them. It was a very engaging discussion that showed the library can play an active role in society when we step outside the formal framework of school,' he added.

The main challenges remain the decline in reading interest due to easy access to information via mobile devices and the lack of funds for new acquisitions. Currently, the library has 134 active readers out of 1,248 registered users, most of them pupils.

The most sought-after books include required school reading, followed by works by foreign authors such as Roald Dahl, J.R.R. Tolkien, Isaac Asimov and Sandra Brown.

'In recent years, school reading lists have changed slightly, introducing new authors the library does not have. Updating the collection is necessary, but due to lack of funds, no new acquisitions have been made apart from periodicals,' Andronache said.

The library and the Cultural Centre continue to play a central role in the town's cultural life, including projects such as the 'Segarceanca' Folk Ensemble.

'The community resonates deeply with our flagship project — the 'Segarceanca' Folk Ensemble — which brings together young dancers eager to uncover the richness of traditional dance, as well as young folk performers who dream of a career in music or simply embrace it as a passion. The community stands by them and responds warmly to every performance,' Andronache added.

Both Plenita and Segarcea demonstrate that a library is not just a repository of books but a vital centre of community life. They support formal and informal education, facilitate access to information and technology, encourage creativity and provide spaces for social interaction.

'Greater involvement from schools in raising awareness among students about the role of libraries in education and personal development would be a form of support. Reading is not about obligation, but about empowerment. It broadens your mind, helps you think independently and gives you the words you need to be heard. A good book can change your perspective — and sometimes even your path. In a world full of scrolling, a good book is the pause that helps you reconnect with yourself,' Andronache concluded.

In Dolj County, rural and urban libraries remain the cultural heart of their communities — places where people meet, learn, communicate and stay informed. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Maria Mitrica; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)