LIBE 477: Inquiry Blog 4: Libraries in the Developing World

 Libraries Around the World

    According to IFLA (2001) the primary purpose of libraries are "to provide resources and services in a variety of media to meet the needs of individuals and groups for education, information and personal development including recreation and leisure. They have an important role in the development and maintenance of a democratic society by giving the individual access to a wide and varied range of knowledge, ideas and opinions" (p. 2). However, because libraries around the world are subject to the varied contexts within which they operate, multiple factors play a role in determining what services these libraries are able to provide and how they deliver these services. Libraries in developed countries such as Canada are privileged to provide their patrons with access to up-to-date print and digital resources, wireless internet, computers and new technologies, as well as free ICT programs and courses such as the free 6 month EvolveU program through the Calgary Public Library which teaches patrons how to code and develop programs. In comparison, libraries in developing countries have "traditionally face[d] serious problems in accessing printed publications, and there are evidences that print-based library services have failed on their mission of providing relevant and timely information" (Da Rosa & Lamas, 2013, p. 1). Additionally, many libraries in developing countries face other challenges such as lack of government policy and funding to support the development and maintenance of libraries, resulting in lack of basic infrastructure, resources and technology and a lack of trained or educated staff. 

    In her article entitled A Consolidation of Challenges Faced by School Libraries in Developing Countries, Liah Shonhe (2019) suggests that some of the main challenges faced by school libraries in developing nations are a result of poor staffing practices, poor funding, lack of library policy, poor ICT infrastructure, poor library facilities, and lack of awareness of the importance of school libraries" (p. 1). Based on her comprehensive literature review of a wide variety of sources from the past 10 years examining the challenges faced by school libraries, she devised a table to display the results of her findings for 13 developing countries. I've included a section of her results below, or you can click here to view the full table.

(Figure 1: Table 1. Shohne, 2019). 

    In addition to the challenges noted above, other crippling factors affecting libraries in developing nations include lack of electricity, lack of materials in students' mother tongues and a lack of space and accommodations (International Association of School Librarianship (IASL), Shohne, 2019, p. 6). While there appears to be a multitude of factors contributing the hardships faced by libraries in developing countries, the majority of these relate back to one key issue: lack of funding/poverty. A lack of funding for libraries most often results in limited, irrelevant or outdated resources, facilities and technologies, as well as a lack of or limited access to internet, and a lack of trained staff/poor staff practices resulting in poor library policies further impeding patron access to quality information. Furthermore, according to Michael-Onuoha et al, (2020), in Poverty Eradication: The Role of Nigerian Libraries towards the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) "there is an intrinsic relationship between poverty eradication and information" therefore "the extent to which people of the twenty first century will be creative, informed, knowledgeable and instrumental to national development will be determined by the availability and the content of the library services in their immediate locality" (p. 3). Thus, the services and resources available within a local library will have a direct impact on the community's development. 

Libraries and Sustainable Development: 

    According to the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), "access to information is a fundamental human right that can break the cycle of poverty and support sustainable development" (Michael-Onuoha, et al., 2020). IFLA contends that many libraries are already furthering development, and that the unique role of libraries make them important development partners in supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) (IFLA, "How do libraries further development?", 2020). In fact, IFLA along with other strategic partners in the library and development world worked together to create an advocacy document known as the Lyon Declaration, which calls upon "United Nations Member States to make an international commitment on ensuring everyone has access to, and is able to understand, use and share the information that is necessary to promote sustainable development and democratic societies" (IFLA, "How do libraries further development?, 2020).  

(Libraries Can Drive Progress Across the Entire UN 2030 Agenda, IFLA, u.d.). 

With so many barriers impeding their ability to provide access to quality information and services, how are libraries in developing countries working to reduce these barriers and support their patrons while also contributing to sustainable development?

    Despite lacking the necessary funds, resources, skills and training critical to a well-developed library and library program, librarians in developing countries around the world are continuously demonstrating their creativity, passion and resilience through innovative initiatives which enable them to provide their patrons with access to information through alternative resources and services. 

Global Partnerships: 

    Tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that everyone in the community has access to information, librarians in developing nations partner with organizations, libraries and other institutions around the globe to provide access to information and to enhance the literacy and ICT skills of their patrons. For example, in Kenya, the Kenya National Library Service partnered with an NGO known as Practical Action as well as with the Berkley Foundation to establish a community library in the area of Kibera, which is known as Africa's largest informal settlement whose inhabitants lack proper shelter, sanitation, security and literacy education (knls Kibera Community Library, 2018). The library designed a program known as Kids on Tab, which gave primary and middle school students access to tablets and provided them with ICT skills training as well as curriculum focussed activities. The program was so successful that nearly 30% of the first group of students to complete the program were admitted to national high schools, whereas prior to the program, and the development of the Kibera library, not a single student from Kibera had ever been accepted to a provincial or national high school! 

Top of the class: Public library changes lives of children in Kibera (EIFL, 2014).

    The Kids on Tab program was also supported by a global organization known as EIFL, which partners with librarians in developing countries. EIFL works to enable access to knowledge for education, learning, research and sustainable community development through multiple programs. For example, the The Open Access Program works to "remove barriers to knowledge sharing by advocating for the adoption of open access (OA) policies and mandates" while the Public Library Innovation Program provides grants to underfunded libraries to "advance community development by enabling public libraries to implement innovative ideas that use technology to improve people’s lives and livelihoods" (EIFL, 2020). 

Intervention Strategies:

    In a study done earlier this year, published by the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, researchers studied the role of Nigerian libraries in supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals created by the United Nations. It identified a list of 10 intervention strategies to be employed by librarians in developing countries to enhance access to information and mitigate the implications of poverty on development. The intervention strategies identified in the study included:

• entrepreneurship empowerment
• information literacy skills
• information repacking for the illiterate
• lifelong learning initiatives
• agricultural extension services
• consultancy services
• information dissemination services
• provision of ICT skills education
• improving reading culture
• mobile library services

                (Michael-Onuoha, et al., 2020, p. 1).

    Although the study concluded that not all of these strategies are currently being employed by libraries in Nigeria, as some librarians lack the necessary skills to do so, researchers assert that "sustainable development as awareness creation by Librarians and libraries is crucial to the actualization of the SDGs, as citizens are more likely to be able to make informed decisions and choices, solve problems and plan adequately when they are informed" (Michael-Onuoha, et al., 2020, p. 10). Furthermore, the study also concluded that libraries and librarians "have the unlimited propensity to catalyse human capital development, productivity and reduction of poverty" (Michael-Onuoha, et al., 2020, p. 1).

Mobile Devices:

    In many parts of the developing world, computer and internet accessibility is an issue. Computers themselves are expensive, while networks often have low bandwidth and connections are inconsistent and unreliable. Mobile phones and devices however, offer an alternative as the developing world has a rapidly growing mobile phone network, and the low cost of these devices makes them available to a larger population. According to Parikh & Lazowska (2006), "mobile phones are also particularly better suited to rural conditions since they have long battery life, wireless connectivity, immediate utility and low price" (Da Rosa & Lamas, 2013, p. 4). Since libraries in developing countries have traditionally struggled with providing access to reliable, timely and relevant print materials, and because they have faced other challenges such lack of ICT resources, access to electronic library resources through mobile devices can be a practical alternative. As such, digital libraries are becoming increasingly prevalent in developing nations through the use of mobile devices. Furthermore, because mobile devices are commonly shared amongst several people in these regions, "library resources actually reach a much broader range of people than the actual mobile phone users" (Da Rosa & Lamas, 2013, p. 6). 

    In a study conducted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, entitled Reading in the Mobile Era: A Study of Mobile Reading in Developing Countries, researchers found that "where illiteracy rates high and physical text is scarce, large numbers of people read full-length books and stories on rudimentary small screen devices" (2014). The study also found that mobile devices increased the amount reading done by both men and women, as well as the amount of reading to children. Additionally, women were found to read more on mobile devices than men. The following video is of an interview with Mark West, one of the authors of the UNESCO report. It highlights some of the results of the report, along with the benefits and challenges of using mobile devices to access digital libraries.

Reading in the Mobile Era (UNESCO, 2014).

    While many traditional libraries in developing nations are working to make their resources and services available to patrons through mobile websites which are easily accessible from mobile devices, other digital library initiatives are also taking place. For example, Library for All is a digital library platform designed to provide students and teachers in developing nations with low cost ebooks, accessible even in low bandwidth environments. Their aim is to "provides access to culturally relevant, age appropriate books in a language and context children understand and relate to" claiming that if they can work to support every child currently enrolled in school in a low literacy nation, their initiative could help combat global poverty by up to 12% (Library for All, 2019). 

Conclusion:

    Despite the many challenges faced by libraries in developing countries, librarians around the world are finding unique and creative solutions to providing their patrons with access to relevant and reliable sources of information. While factors such as lack of policy, funds, resources and training present challenging issues for these librarians, through global partnerships, intervention strategies, mobile devices, digital libraries and other initiatives, it is clear that progress towards improving information access around the world is taking place.

References:

Chew, H., & West, M. (2014). Reading in the mobile era: A study of mobile reading in developing countries [Ebook]. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 30 October 2020, from https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000227436/PDF/227436eng.pdf.multi.

Da Rosa, I., & Lamas, D. (2013). Mobile access to digital libraries in developing countries: a reflection on motives, options and sustainability. Conference: 2013 International Conference On Cyber Science And Engineering. Retrieved 30 October 2020, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259485595_Mobile_access_to_digital_libraries_in_developing_countries_a_reflection_on_motives_options_and_sustainability.

EIFL. (2014). Top of the class: Public library changes lives of children in Kibera [Video]. Retrieved 30 October 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo-BrdWCuF0.

Gill et. al., P. (2001). The Public Library Service: IFLA/UNESCO Guidelines for Development [Ebook]. International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. Retrieved 30 October 2020, from https://www.ifla.org/files/assets/hq/publications/archive/the-public-library-service/publ97.pdf.

IFLA -- How do libraries further development?. Ifla.org. (2020). Retrieved 30 October 2020, from https://www.ifla.org/node/7408.

IFLA -- International Advocacy Programme (IAP) Awareness-raising materials from around the world. Ifla.org. (2020). Retrieved 30 October 2020, from https://www.ifla.org/publications/node/91709?og=7409.

IFLA. LIBRARIES CAN DRIVE PROGRESS ACROSS THE ENTIRE UN 2030 AGENDA [PDF]. IFLA. Retrieved 30 October 2020, from https://www.ifla.org/files/assets/hq/topics/libraries-development/documents/ifla-poster-sdgs.pdf.

knls Kibera Community Library. (2018). Library Map of the World. Librarymap.ifla.org. Retrieved 30 October 2020, from https://librarymap.ifla.org/stories/Kenya/LIBRARY-IN-KIBERA,-AFRICA%E2%80%99S-LARGEST-INFORMAL-SETTLEMENT,-IMPROVES-ACCESS-TO-EDUCATION/123.

Labrooy, M. (2013). Africa’s smartphone revolution – eLearning Africa News. Ela-newsportal.com. Retrieved 30 October 2020, from https://ela-newsportal.com/africas-smartphone-revolution/.

Library For All. Library For All. (2019). Retrieved 30 October 2020, from https://libraryforall.org/.

Lubuto Library Partners. (2019). What We Do — Lubuto Library Partners. Retrieved 30 October 2020, from https://www.lubuto.org/what-we-do.

Michael-Onuoha, H., Nkiko, C., & Okuonghae, O. (2020). Poverty Eradication: The Role of Nigerian Libraries towards the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Library Philosophy And Practice (E-Journal).. Retrieved 30 October 2020, from https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8003&context=libphilprac.

Neikirk, L. (2014). UNESCO: MOBILE TECH KEY TO LITERACY IN DEVELOPING WORLD. Reviewed. Retrieved 30 October 2020, from https://www.reviewed.com/tablets/news/unesco-mobile-tech-key-to-literacy-in-developing-world.

Shonhe, L. (2019). A Consolidation of Challenges Faced by School Libraries in Developing Countries. Library Philosophy And Practice (E-Journal), 3(18). Retrieved 30 October 2020, from https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5867&context=libphilprac.

Teach Thought Staff. (2014). Library For All’s Push For Literacy In Developing Nations [Blog]. Retrieved 30 October 2020, from https://www.teachthought.com/literacy/library-alls-push-literacy-developing-nations/.

UNESCO. (2019). UNESCO study shows effectiveness of mobile phones in promoting reading and literacy in developing countries. UNESCO. Retrieved 30 October 2020, from https://en.unesco.org/news/unesco-study-shows-effectiveness-mobile-phones-promoting-reading-and-literacy-developing-0.