Oradea-born writer Viorel Boldis and his wife, Diana, combine their passion for books with a desire to reach children in remote rural communities through their initiative "BiblioTheCar", a van transformed into a mobile library.
"First of all, it's an initiative that responds to a real need. We all know that children read less and less today, and the problem is most acute in rural areas. Many libraries no longer exist, and those that do often aren't functional. That's why a project like this is, I believe, highly welcome," Viorel Boldis told AGERPRES.
Although he has tried other professions, Boldis continues his literary work as a personal mission, supported by his wife, who sees his vocation as clear and unwavering.
"I think he is one of the few lucky people who know their calling without searching for it. I encouraged him to follow this path because his mission is obvious. God gave him a gift that brings joy to many, and through his writing people find meaning, guidance and moral direction," Diana said.
BiblioTheCar, funded entirely by the family, is a van repurposed into a cozy reading space and stocked with books.
"It's a library on wheels, and we want to reach as many isolated villages and as many children as possible. We plan to visit each community about once a month, to give children a regular reading break," Diana explained.
During the first visit, children receive age-appropriate books; at the next visit, they return them and borrow new ones, in a cycle repeated every three to four weeks.
The impact was immediate. In Brusturi, Viorel Boldis's childhood village, where the local library exists but has little activity, the bookmobile's pilot visit produced remarkable results: over 120 books were borrowed across two visits - more than during the entire previous year.
"The fact that it's something from the outer world, the relaxed and friendly atmosphere, the environment created by the mobile library - all of this fascinates children. Today, they need such moments more than ever. Technology has taken over, not only for children but for adults too. We need to reclaim this emotional space, because every story creates emotion, opens a world, inspires and guides - things screens will never do," Diana Boldis explains.
Feedback from schools was encouraging: around 80% of the children read the books they received.
Most of the book collection comes from donations. A major contribution came from a Brasov-based NGO through Florin Bucutea, who donated nearly 2,500 volumes. Additional collection drives in schools and kindergartens helped diversify the children's section.
The bookmobile can hold about 1,500 volumes, organized by category. Over time, the children's collection has grown beyond the initial capacity, reflecting strong community engagement.
Beyond lending books, the couple plans to expand the project with interactive workshops and cultural events featuring entrepreneurs, artists and writers who can offer children role models and new perspectives.
"We want to bring people who can inspire them. Children need models. There's nothing more nourishing than the children's joy. From the second visit, they welcomed us with hugs, smiles and enthusiasm - it was overwhelming," Diana said.
Activities are planned year-round, not only in summer, although warm weather makes outdoor events easier.
Behind the enthusiasm, however, lie administrative and financial challenges. Collaboration with rural municipalities is difficult due to limited budgets, making long-term partnerships hard to secure.
Ideally, local administrations would help cover transport, maintenance, fuel and other logistical costs through formal agreements. Such partnerships would allow the project to expand cultural and educational activities in rural areas where resources are scarce.
Despite the obstacles, the couple remains confident. BiblioTheCar continues to grow, driven by passion, dedication and the belief that bringing books to children in remote communities can open a window to the world.
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Born in Oradea, Viorel Boldis turned 60 on March 16. He emigrated in 1992, eventually settling in Italy, where he worked as a translator and cultural mediator in Brescia. He has published in international magazines and anthologies and won numerous literary awards between 2000 and 2016 in both Italy and Romania, for poetry and children's literature. Among other distinctions, he received the Diploma of Excellence from the Romanian Parliament for promoting Romanian culture in Italy.
Known in the Bihor cultural community as the "Diaspora Poet", Boldis built up a wide audience through his books. One of his works, The White Handkerchief, was included in school textbooks in Italy and Brazil, where it was also adapted for stage and screen. The book, with its universal themes, was appreciated by both children and adults and was even mentioned by Pope Francis, who compared its message to the parable of the Prodigal Son.
After 27 years in Italy, Viorel Boldis returned to Romania in January 2022, settling in his childhood village, Tiganesti de Cris, in Brusturi commune, Bihor.
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