To support public libraries, the organization IREX Moldova (International Research & Exchanges Board), NOVATECA Program in cooperation with the Municipal Library “B. P. Hajdeu” organized in the period 19-22 January 2015 within the premises of the National Centre of Professional Excellence for Librarians from Chisinau the Workshop “New Library Services” for librarians-trainers in the NOVATECA Project.

The workshop included several working sessions, librarians being able to hear a series of communications on library’s role in informing the community, expansion and modernization of services provided by libraries to motivate users to attend the library and awakening the interest in reading. Also, librarians shared their own initiatives and experiences on the implementation of new services by libraries.

On January 21, in the eighth session of the Workshop, experts from the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI) presented two communications: “Protection of Intellectual Property in the Republic of Moldova” (A. Arnaut, Deputy Head of the Library and Archive Collection Division) and “Protection of Copyright through Libraries” (O. Belei, Head of the Control and Enforcement of Legislation Division), highlighting the role that libraries have in providing access to information protected by copyright. Also, AGEPI specialists familiarized librarians-trainers from the NOVATECA Project with the national legislation in the field of protection of copyright and related rights, the services provided by AGEPI and how to access public Databases in the field of intellectual property managed by AGEPI. Participants in the Workshop have been distributed promotion materials in the field of intellectual property.

We should mention in this context that in February 2014, Lilia Bolocan, Director General of AGEPI, and Evan Tracz, Director of Public Association IREX, Representative of the Republic of Moldova, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which provides diversification and modernization of public library services, and facilitation of applicants and civil society access to information tools, including literature in the field of IP.

The event was very useful for librarians who have expressed desire to deepen their knowledge in other meetings or workshops of this kind. Organizers express their hope that these trainings will help libraries to be more attractive to the community and to respond to its needs.