Access to Libraries for Everyone

When I first started thinking about how we bring books and libraries to developing countries the first thing I thought of is the big blue book donation bins placed around town.

Image taken from an article in the Napa Valley Register.

I have, in the past, put books into these bins mostly because I didn't want to figure out what to do with them. After doing some charity work myself I started to realize that people don't want my cast offs, they want meaningful, useful materials. How can we make sure that the help we are sending is actually needed, and more so, wanted?

Thinking about book distribution I immediately wonder how much it would cost to ship books around the world. Is there a better option? In response to this I did a quick search and found a few articles on how digital libraries are being used more and more in developing nations.

Overdrive Digital Library App

I found this article interesting when thinking about the role of smart phones in spreading libraries:

Mobile access to digital libraries in developing countries: a reflection on motives, options and sustainability

The author takes a look at how (at the time or publication) around 84% of households with access to a mobile phones. A rate much higher than that of computers. It is suggested that making libraries digital and making sure people have access to them is the way of the future.

I agree that this seems like a convenient way to bring libraries into every household. In order for this to be successful I feel like there would still need to be education in place to make sure people know how to access the libraries. Also, the people need to be literate and have access to books from a young age to build an interest in reading. Just providing the app and access is not enough.

I think the fact is that there is no easy answer to how to build, maintain, and use libraries in developing countries. We can not go in with our North American view of how things work and expect the same model to work everywhere. With that in mind I started reading about two organizations.

1. Global Libraries.

This organization is part of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and has four areas of focus: Research and Innovation, Delivery, Training and Leadership, and Impact, Advocacy, and Policy. What immediately drew me to this organization is that they are teaching people how to use the technology as well as making it accessible. There is a focus on digital libraries but also on internet research skills. People in poor, rural, and developing areas are given access and are taught what to do with it. That is how meaningful change can take place for these people. I like that the focus is not only global but also the poor and rural close to home.

2. Library for All

I first found this organization as a Kickstarter which made me curious. They were able to raise $109,000 in 2013 towards digital libraries in developing countries. Their mission is to build digital libraries and also to educate children.  They have programs in five countries using a cloud-based library platform. The website shows kids and adults learning to read, using tablets to access books. They also work with local partners to make sure the program is appropriate and sustainable. They provide easy to understand graphics like this one to encourage sponsorship (according to the website $10 can provide a child access to the digital library for a full year).

The Pillars of Our Library - taken from the Library for All website

Both of these organizations resonate with me because the combine access with teaching. I love that these groups are partnering with communities, not just dumping resources. It is the best way to bring change.

If you want to read further about more charities working to bring books and libraries to the world, check out the following list:

12 Amazing Book And Literacy Charities That Are Changing The World

Works Cited

Sousa, J. (2012). Book Donation Bin. [image] Available at: https://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/rival-boxes-collect-books-for-profit-and-donation/article_f1b5c5a2-f7bf-11e1-9e86-0019bb2963f4.html [Accessed 17 Jun. 2018].

Overdrive. (2018). [image] Available at: https://resources.overdrive.com/library/marketing-outreach/library-digital-resources/ [Accessed 17 Jun. 2018].

Barreto Da Rosa, I. and Lamas, D. (2013). Mobile access to digital libraries in developing countries: a reflection on motives, options, and sustainabiity. [online] ResearchGate. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259485595_Mobile_access_to_digital_libraries_in_developing_countries_a_reflection_on_motives_options_and_sustainability [Accessed 17 Jun. 2018].

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. (2018). Global Libraries. [online] Available at: https://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Development/Global-Libraries [Accessed 17 Jun. 2018].

Evans, T. (2017). Homepage. [online] Library For All. Available at: http://www.libraryforall.org/ [Accessed 18 Jun. 2018].

Weiss, A. (2015). 12 Amazing Book Charities Around The World. [online] Bustle. Available at: https://www.bustle.com/articles/126582-12-amazing-book-and-literacy-charities-that-are-changing-the-world [Accessed 17 Jun. 2018].