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Libraries around the world are essential for access to ideas and information, but they are often subject to the amount of funding or lack thereof that they receive. Using a wider focus and thinking about libraries in a global context is a challenging task. My online research skills were tested as I tried many different combinations of search terms this week to try and find relevant, recent information about the services public libraries provide in developing countries. I decided to consider two broad areas - access to physical books and access to the internet and digital information.
Given the proliferation of mobile devices throughout the world, I think that in addition to maintaining print collections, the focus for libraries at all levels should be in both providing a space where there is free access to reliable Wi-Fi and also trained staff to assist patrons in finding the information that they need. If libraries are unable to provide this for their communities, then we will continue to find access inequity in both developing and developed nations, as individuals with low incomes are unable to access the wealth of information and ideas that exist on the internet.
Internet access is further complicated by the need for reliable ICT infrastructure. The question is... who provides that infrastructure? Unfortunately, when governments neglect or are unable to adequately fund the building of this ICT infrastructure, private corporations leap to fill the void.
Inspired by a chat with our course instructor, Aaron Mueller at the BCTLA Conference on Friday, I looked into corporate involvement in providing Wi-Fi in developing countries. Facebook, Google and Amazon are all competing at various levels to provide the means necessary to provide internet access to underserved parts of the world. Although their involvement means greater internet access for many people who otherwise would not have it, what is the cost? I have trouble believing that organizations like Facebook fund this infrastructure out of the goodness of their hearts. The benefits to controlling this infrastructure in the long term are substantial. Simply from a marketing perspective, they have an unrivalled opportunity to push their own products over that of their competitors.
I think that libraries are a critical part of providing equitable access to the internet and mobile devices. I discovered that there are charitable organizations like Beyond Access which aim to partner with public libraries to promote access to information and technology to under-served communities throughout the world.
Access to e-readers and digital books in developing countries are forefront in the mission of World Reader - an organization that partners with teachers and librarians around the world to foster reading cultures through access to digital reading on e-readers and mobile devices. This video provides a quick overview into one of their projects in Kenya.
Access to physical books is addressed by government funding to public libraries and then also by the work of international charity organizations such as Book Aid International who provide new, recently published books to developing countries. They do not accept second hand books. Although I do not agree that second hand books from Western countries should be the only source of books for developing countries, I do think that second hand books (in good condition and recently published) can be well-used in under-funded libraries.
The work of individual's in providing library services can also have an impact on communities. Sudanese librarian, Abdirahman Moalim, provides books to protestors in Khartoum, Sudan.
It is an interesting article about the power of books in democratic protests and it also mentions the fact that young university students have mobile devices on which they then spread word of this 'library' through social media. This implies that although these students have access to mobile devices and information online, they still value print resources to provide ideas and information. Social media also has the ability to promote the services that libraries can provide.
In a recent study of public university libraries in Malawi, Chaputula and Mutula (2018) concluded that although the libraries had the basic requirements of infrastructure to provide digital library services, they had significant challenges in the form of insufficient bandwidth. This is an issue in many parts of the world and I think we may see it become a wider gap unless there is significant intervention by governments, corporations or charitable organizations - or perhaps a combination of all three? Hopefully, libraries will continue to play a central role as they are a crucial part of democratic and equitable access to information and exchange of ideas.
References:
Chaputula, A.H. & Mutula, S (2018). eReadiness of Public University Libraries in Malawi to use mobile phones in the provision of library and information services. Library Hi Tech. Accessed from https://www-emerald-com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/insight/content/doi/10.1108/LHT-10-2017-0204/full/html#sec006
Internet access is further complicated by the need for reliable ICT infrastructure. The question is... who provides that infrastructure? Unfortunately, when governments neglect or are unable to adequately fund the building of this ICT infrastructure, private corporations leap to fill the void.
Inspired by a chat with our course instructor, Aaron Mueller at the BCTLA Conference on Friday, I looked into corporate involvement in providing Wi-Fi in developing countries. Facebook, Google and Amazon are all competing at various levels to provide the means necessary to provide internet access to underserved parts of the world. Although their involvement means greater internet access for many people who otherwise would not have it, what is the cost? I have trouble believing that organizations like Facebook fund this infrastructure out of the goodness of their hearts. The benefits to controlling this infrastructure in the long term are substantial. Simply from a marketing perspective, they have an unrivalled opportunity to push their own products over that of their competitors.
I think that libraries are a critical part of providing equitable access to the internet and mobile devices. I discovered that there are charitable organizations like Beyond Access which aim to partner with public libraries to promote access to information and technology to under-served communities throughout the world.
Access to e-readers and digital books in developing countries are forefront in the mission of World Reader - an organization that partners with teachers and librarians around the world to foster reading cultures through access to digital reading on e-readers and mobile devices. This video provides a quick overview into one of their projects in Kenya.
Access to physical books is addressed by government funding to public libraries and then also by the work of international charity organizations such as Book Aid International who provide new, recently published books to developing countries. They do not accept second hand books. Although I do not agree that second hand books from Western countries should be the only source of books for developing countries, I do think that second hand books (in good condition and recently published) can be well-used in under-funded libraries.
The work of individual's in providing library services can also have an impact on communities. Sudanese librarian, Abdirahman Moalim, provides books to protestors in Khartoum, Sudan.
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| Image from Hamza Mohamed/Al-Jazeera access here |
It is an interesting article about the power of books in democratic protests and it also mentions the fact that young university students have mobile devices on which they then spread word of this 'library' through social media. This implies that although these students have access to mobile devices and information online, they still value print resources to provide ideas and information. Social media also has the ability to promote the services that libraries can provide.
In a recent study of public university libraries in Malawi, Chaputula and Mutula (2018) concluded that although the libraries had the basic requirements of infrastructure to provide digital library services, they had significant challenges in the form of insufficient bandwidth. This is an issue in many parts of the world and I think we may see it become a wider gap unless there is significant intervention by governments, corporations or charitable organizations - or perhaps a combination of all three? Hopefully, libraries will continue to play a central role as they are a crucial part of democratic and equitable access to information and exchange of ideas.
References:
Chaputula, A.H. & Mutula, S (2018). eReadiness of Public University Libraries in Malawi to use mobile phones in the provision of library and information services. Library Hi Tech. Accessed from https://www-emerald-com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/insight/content/doi/10.1108/LHT-10-2017-0204/full/html#sec006
A good post that captures your learning and explorations on this topic well. Your research provided some very helpful examples, discussion points and organizations that are working hard to support these communities, countries and people around the world, who want to better their lives. Your mention of some of the challenges in providing network access and bandwidth is good and needed a bit more discussion, but overall, this was a great overview of your new learning. Good to see you on friday!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the article about the open air library in Sudan. What an inspiring story! Not only does it highlight the thirst people have for knowledge and change for the better, but also includes an amazing positive about technology and social media. Protestors went looking for the library after seeing it on social media. It shows the power of access to information both online and as tangible sources.
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