Post on 13-Jan-2015
description
transcript
Libraries in Developing Countries
Catherine BairdBecky Jansen
Co-Chairs of OperationsLibrarians Without Borders
July 18, 2006
Agenda Inception and History of Librarians Without
Borders (LWB)
Brainstorming
Group Work
LWB Experiences
Conclusion
Inception of LWB December 2004
Founded by a group of LIS students Need for books and information in Angola
Mission To improve access to information resources
regardless of language, geography, or religion, by forming partnerships with community organizations in developing regions
LWB Values Role of Libraries
Intellectual freedom Equal access to information
Access to Information/Education supporting learning and literacy, reducing
poverty, empowering citizens, and building strong communities.
Embrace Diversity Work in cultural context with appropriate
languages
Collaboration
History of LWB February 2005
LWB officially began
September 2005 Launch party
October 2005 LWB incorporated as a non-profit organization
Fall 2005 Fundraising Activities
History of LWB January – April 2006
Began planning for Sponsor-a-Book Campaign (SaB) Raise $ to purchase Portuguese language medical books for
post-secondary education in Angola
May 2006 – Present Planning for SaB on hold Charitable Status Development of Board of Directors Moving from Student based to Professional Based
Always contemplating issues that face libraries in developing countries
Top 5 Issues What do you think the top 5 issues are
that libraries in developing countries face?
1. Individually
2. Pairs
3. Small Groups
Group Activity 8 groups of 5 or 6 people
Read assigned article individually
Answer questions with your group
Record answers on overhead
Be prepared to give 30 second summary of article
What to Read?? Brief Communication
Whole Article
Indigenous Knowledge for Development pp. 375-377 (stop before “system architecture”) p. 381-382 (just the conclusion)
Books and Education in Subsaharan Africa pp. 13-16 (stop before “education in the Subsaharan
Africa”) p. 17 (just the conclusion)
Public Library system in India pp. 180-182 p. 185 p. 189-190 (just the conclusion)
LWB Experiences Our first Sponsor-a-Book (SaB) project
SaB Campaign challenges
What we learned from CODE
Should we use Blue Trunk?
Sponsor-a-Book Campaign
Location – Huambo, Angola
Raise funds for Portuguese language medical resources for post-secondary nursing/medical programs
Angola - Located in Southern Africa
Bordered on West by South Atlantic Ocean, on North by Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the East by Zambia and on the South by Namibia.
Angola Fast Facts Independence from Portugal in 1975 27 year civil war ended in 2002 Population: 12,127,071 (July 2006 est.)
Capital: Luanda -- 2nd largest City: Huambo
Official language: Portuguese
Many traditional languages still spoken including Umbundu, Kimbundu and Kikongo
66.8% of the population (over 15) can read and write (82.1% of men & 53.8 % of women)
Religion: Traditional beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15%
Campaign Challenges
Health Resources needed Our goal – place material in central location Accessible to students and health practitioners
Plans to restart the medical school in Huambo
2 nursing schools in Huambo (basic & intermediate) 1 closed in past 6 months
Project on hold – charitable status
Communication in Huambo Internet access in Huambo is minimal
Phones don’t always work
Letter mail is VERY slow and unreliable
Project liaison was in Canada
Cultural differences in communication styles
Portuguese vs. English
Collection Development Goal is an Angola-centric collection
Original booklist from Dean of Nursing outdated
Communication barriers
Language barriers
Solutions? Communication
Patience Using other networks Learning about culture Translators
Collection Development Portuguese publishers Sent booklist to Angola in May 2006
General Guidance from other organizations
CODE Canadian charitable organization
Founded in 1959 Volunteers in a Toronto basement
Currently based in Ottawa $9.4 million budget (2004-2005)
Promotes education and literacy in 13 local organizations in nine countries Guyana, Senegal, Mali, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya,
Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique
How? Current focus
assist in the development of primary-school libraries for local children
Oral traditions incorporated into material
Children’s Book Project (Tanzania, 1991) training local writers, printers, illustrators and
booksellers to produce and distribute books and magazines in local languages.
CBP has reached over 7,000 schools in Tanzania and supported the publishing of over 500 local language books in several countries
Skills Development in Teaching/Librarianship
Pictures courtesy of Yvonne Appiah, Executive Director of CODE
http://www.codecan.org/
Camel Library - Kenya
What we learned from CODE Importance of local traditions/languages
‘Any book is not better than no book’
Partnerships – must be equally committed
Patience
Should we use Blue Trunk? Developed by World
Health Organization
Up to date relevant medical and health information primarily for health care providers
Trunks in French, English, Portugese (2006)
Should we use Blue Trunk? Advantages
Ready to use Covers a wide range of topics
Disadvantages For health care providers Primarily Brazilian publications No training
Questions?