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The unconventional libraries have emerged as a result of initiatives by individuals, NGOs or other types of organizations in order to facilitate access to reading in a different context from the traditional, institutional one. In most cases, these are public access libraries consisting of collections of print books for borrowing available in unconventional spaces (cafes, malls, hotels, outdoors, etc.) or as itinerant collections. Their main function is not to preserve their collections, but to make them more accessible and more attractive to users. Unconventional libraries can be an alternative to the collections and services of conventional libraries but also a unique solution, when serving certain disadvantaged users in terms of access to conventional libraries. The authors propose a division of unconventional libraries into three categories - libraries organized in unconventional spaces, mobile libraries and micro libraries - and present examples of unconventional libraries in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the public library in Arizona - Phoenix Public Library - considering the visit and the discussions that the author had with the library director, Ms. Toni Garvey. In 2004 she was conferred the title "librarian of the year" by the Library Journal Magazine as she is well known for successfully managing the library with its 17 branches and for promoting the new role of the library as open space, stating that "the library is the most democratic institution". As for the size of the collection, Phoenix Public Library counts 181.570 reference items (that are not available for circulation) children literature, rare books and the "Arizona" collection, 25.609 digital items, 11.973 newspapers and magazines, and a small collection of Romanian books. Tony Garvey joined the American delegation that visited Romania in 2010 with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation program, and she was amazed by the openness and willingness of Romanian librarians to learn about the experiences of their American colleagues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Library of Montenegro represents one of the foundations of the State, tradition and culture of the country. The article presents the main stages of the evolution and history of the library, highlighting the importance of the collection of documents, and also the fact that the library makes available to public a digital library that allows the use of the written heritage in electronic format. Through the events it organizes, the library complements its social and educational role, thus becoming one of the most important factors on the Montenegro's cultural map. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 2011 and 2012 "Lucian Blaga" University Library in Sibiu joined important European libraries in the Europeana Libraries project. This project aimed to reach a new audience, the research community, and therefore established new approach and services via the newly designed The European Library portal. "Lucian Blaga" University Library contributed to this project with two of its digital collections, and together with the Romanian Academy Library helped promoting the national cultural and research heritage. The authors mention here the steps taken by the "Lucian Blaga" University Library in Sibiu and describe the collections delivered and now available through both The European Library/Europeana portals. The collaboration with these institutions will continue in the near future, more precisely in 2013-2015 with Europeana Cloud where the university library will continue to deliver digital content from its collections. The article mentions also the local collaborations established between the "Lucian Blaga" University Library and "ASTRA" County Library, Brukenthal National Museum, Teutsch Cultural Centre and their efforts to reach new partnerships with "Lucian Blaga" University Library in Cluj-Napoca and "1 Decembrie 1918" University Library in Alba Iulia to create a Transylvanian Digital Library [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]