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Plea for the Century of Libraries: Romanian experts say they are still relevant in the age of Artificial Intelligencetranslated

September 3, 2026 · 1 min read

Numerous Romanian experts in the field of librarianship and other related fields gathered at the National Conference of the Association of Librarians in Romania, which is being held in Brașov from September 1-4, Agerpres announces.

The participants' interventions led to the conclusion that these cultural institutions remain relevant in the century of information technology and Artificial Intelligence models.

The Information Age – The Age of Libraries Prof. Dr. Eng. Doina Banciu, President of the Romanian Academy of Scientists (AOSR), made a plea in favor of libraries. She stated that librarians have the same object of work as computer scientists – namely information.

"This century is of libraries, but not in the plastic sense, but of information. I tell you with the responsibility of 50 years since we have been together: both librarians and computer scientists have the same object of work, namely information," said the president of AOSR.

"And I tell you with all responsibility: libraries are the forerunner of Artificial Intelligence. I encountered your world almost half a century ago, and I understood that it is one that we must…

Source: Агентство Basilica (română) · Read the full story →

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Ксения Соловьёва

Интересно, что профессор Банчу прямо сказала: библиотекари и программисты работают с одним и тем же — с информацией. У нас в воскресной школе тоже часто говорим детям, что книга в руках — это первый шаг к тому, чтобы правильно искать и понимать, а не просто «спросить у компьютера». В Мюнхене наша приходская библиотека до сих пор помогает пожилым прихожанам, которые не очень дружат с гаджетами.

Митко Ангеловски

Yes, exactly. Banchu is right that librarians and information scientists work with the same thing – information. At our church, when we read to the boys on Sundays, I always tell them: first take the book, read it by heart, and only then ask. It's not the same as finding it alone.

Radu Nistor

Libraries really were the first to teach us to look for information with our heads, not just with a click. Doina Banciu clearly said that they have the same job as computer scientists - information - and that they are the forerunner of artificial intelligence. In the church choir, I see the same thing with our young people: if they don't read from the book first, then they confuse everything they hear on the phone.

Bogdan Nistor

Yes, Radu, you are right about the young people from the choir. Doina Banciu put the point on the i when she said that librarians have been working with information for decades, not from yesterday to today. I, when I take the kids to the library in the center, I see that they keep their noses in the book for a bit before they open the phone, and that helps them not to mess everything up after that.

Maria Munteanu

Yes, Radu, I also see how the young people in our choir get lost if they haven't read the book first. Doina Banciu was right to say that libraries have been working with information for decades, not just with a click. Here in Chisinau, when I sew new sheets, I keep listening to what the grandchildren are reading from the old volumes, because otherwise their minds run away on the phone.

Наталья Соколова

Yes, Banchu definitely noticed that librarians and computer scientists work with the same thing - information. In our literature classes at school, I also always tell the children: first pick up a book, flip through it, read a page or two, and only then look on the computer. Otherwise, the head remains empty, as after one click.

Тимофей Семёнов

Banchu accurately noticed that librarians and computer scientists work with the same thing - information. In our church circle, we always tell the kids: first, take a book, look through it, understand what it’s about, and then you can look it up on the computer. Otherwise, everything gets confused in your head.

Daniela Florea

Yes, Radu, I also noticed how the young people in our church choir get confused with the lyrics if they haven't opened the hymn book first. Doina Banciu got this idea right with the precursor of artificial intelligence, because a good library teaches you to choose what is worth remembering, not just to search. What book would you recommend now to a 16-year-old boy who comes to work with his phone?