On 5 October 2026, the National Library of the Republic of Moldova hosted a meeting of librarians and library professionals who are alumni of U.S. exchange and professional development programmes. Held in the context of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, the event celebrated the enduring connections created through international professional exchange and cooperation.

Entitled “Open Connections: 250 Years of U.S. Independence and the Cultural Bridges of Moldovan Libraries,” the meeting was moderated by Elena Pintilei, Director General of the National Library of the Republic of Moldova.

The event brought together 14 alumni of U.S. programmes in librarianship, alongside colleagues from the wider Moldovan library community. Participants shared experiences from their time in the United States and reflected on the knowledge, skills and perspectives gained through international exchange and their impact on their professional activities.

Representatives of the U.S. Embassy in Moldova also attended the meeting, including Joanne Kramb, Education and Cultural Affairs Attaché, and Natalia Sedelkova, Alumni and Exchange Programmes Coordinator, both based at the U.S. Embassy in Chisinau.

During her contribution, Joanne Kramb spoke about the diversity and significance of libraries across the United States, highlighting their role as open and accessible spaces and as centres of community life — places where people can come together, learn, access knowledge and resources, and build connections.

Her message resonated with the broader theme of the meeting. Libraries are not only custodians of knowledge and cultural heritage; they are also places where communities meet, ideas are exchanged and connections are created. Through international cooperation, libraries and their professionals can build bridges between cultures, institutions and communities.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to strengthen the network of alumni of U.S. programmes in librarianship and to explore new opportunities for professional cooperation. The connections established through international exchange continue to support professional development, knowledge sharing and new perspectives on the evolving role of libraries.

The gathering in Chisinau was therefore both a celebration of an important anniversary and a reflection on the lasting value of international professional exchange. It demonstrated how relationships created through such programmes can continue to inspire collaboration long after the programmes themselves have ended.

For the Moldovan library community, the meeting reaffirmed a simple but powerful idea: libraries connect people, knowledge and communities — across institutions, cultures and borders.

Contributions:

Mariana Kiriakov, chief specialist, Old and Rare Book Section, NLRM

Natalia Ghimpu, chief specialist, Librarianship Development Section, NLRM

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/BibliotecaNationala/posts/pfbid02uTMFdHnXygVmYu6ACnMWVeKPtf46Z9xEEgKThgi5pX65LAYQxLoRo7ZwZLr6NSdBl