Tirgu Mures, April 7 - Valerian Vreme, the Minister of Communications and Information Society and the Mayor of Tirgu Mures, Dorin Florea, announced today the installation of a new public and free Internet access service through wi-fi within the County Library.

The City Hall will make the payments for the monthly costs of the Internet connection for the new wireless services, for life, moreover, a national premiere measure of involvement of the local authorities, welcomed by Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, present on this occasion in Tirgu Mures. Thus, Tirgu Mures County Library becomes an access center with free wireless connection to the Internet for all city’s inhabitants.

"We are extremely excited about the involvement of the local authorities from Tirgu Mures in Biblionet program, financed by the Gates Foundation, which equips public libraries with modern technology. Since the beginning of this program in Romania is the first initiative of its kind from a City Hall. The national and local support for the citizens' access to technology is essential for the public libraries in Romania to serve their communities as better as possible. " said Sylvia Mathews Burwell, President of the Global Development Program- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Mayor Dorin Florea said at the event: "Gates Foundation initiative to increase Internet access for citizens by providing public libraries with modern technology coincides with the ambition of Digital Mures Strategy to transform Tirgu Mures city into the first digital city in Romania and among the first in the world. For those who do not have internet at home or at work, the access to information related to health, education and jobs available through the Internet is now available free in the public libraries. Furthermore, librarians are trained to help people who have never used computers, to assist them in the search of important information for them. For example, citizens can access the online electronic payment system of taxes from a public library computer and not lose hours standing at queues. "

For the support offered to Tirgu Mures Municipality by sustaining and  promoting the Digital Mures strategy at national and international level- strategy that will lead to the development of the city by modernizing public services, improving the relationship with citizens, substantial savings, the development of local  institutions and companies, but also by creating new jobs- the Mayor Dorin Florea has given the "Pro Urbe"  distinction to the Minister of Communications and Information Society, Mr. Valerian Vreme, a distinction approved within the meeting from 31 March 2011 by the Local Council, through LCD no. 146 / 31.03.2011.

The Minister Valerian Vreme said: "Trying to meet the information needs of users, public libraries fulfill an essential function by providing digital opportunities for community members. Reducing the digital decalage and increasing the access to the Internet network are the most important steps that Romania should accomplish in the future. I want to thank you for “Pro Urbe” Distinction, it is a great honor for me, and to assure you of the support you need"

Sylvia Mathews Burwell is present in Tirgu Mures within her two-day visit in Romania in order to assess and support future development at national and local level of the Biblionet program.

The Biblionet program involved up to this point in Mures the endowment with 99 computers of 21 libraries, including the County Library. The amount of investment in hardware and software equipments and the training sessions for librarians is around 172,000 dollars.

Biblionet is an initiative of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation totaling 26.9 million $ given to Romanian citizens for a period of five years and aims to facilitate access to information by introducing modern technology in public libraries.

Sylvia Mathews Burwell  

Is the second person in the board of management of Bill& Melinda Gates Foundation and coordinates its major financing domains.

Before joining Bill and Melinda Gates, Burwell served in the President Clinton administration as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, assistant to the president, deputy chief of staff to the president, and chief of staff to former Treasury Secretary Robert E. Rubin.

Burwell is a graduate of Harvard University and a Rhodes scholar. She serves on the board of directors for MetLife Inc. and the Council on Foreign Relations and is a member of the board of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. She is also a member of the Aspen Strategy Group, the Trilateral Commission, and the Nike Foundation Advisory Group. She hails from Hinton, West Virginia.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest corporate foundation in the world. At the end of 2010, the Foundation recorded 891 employees, funds amounting 36.74 billion dollars and has provided grant funding programs (grants) totaling 24.45 billion dollars.
In 2010, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation gave approximately 2.6 billion dollars in grants and other charitable contributions.