An Initial foray into World Libraries...

When I started looking at support for developing world libraries, I found an article by Curry et al (2002) outlines the conflict of globalization of libraries.  Curry et al(2002) say globalization negatively impacts “developing” countries by shifting power away from local governments to a handful of corporations and financial institutions looking for financial gain.  The digital library resources contain mainly information from Western cultures, in Western languages; and do not reflect local social, environmental or cultural values.  The access to digital information uses products from “Western” corporations from the internet to cell service, to the tools to read digitally streamed information.   These comments reminds me of the companies that promoted infant formula as a solution to malnutrition in the 1960’s to 80’s in “third world” countries (Corporate Crime and Violence 1987) rather than promoting local solutions.  The article by Curry (2002) challenges people to ensure they are partners in developing world libraries and not “Lady Bountiful”.  It suggests that programs intending to assist libraries in “developing” countries should focus on traditional areas of need including literacy, collection development (appropriate for local users) and indigenous book publishing among others. 

On the web I found a non-profit group (Bibliothèques sansfrontières 2014) that promotes library development in the sub-Sahara, India, and the Caribbean; areas identified as having the lowest digital connectivity (Freakonomics 2014).  Then I checked to see if their programs meet Curry’s (2002) guidelines for assisting library development.  I was happy to note that they include all of the concerns identified in their areas of intervention including: conservation of cultural heritage, information and culture, and capacity building.  The irony of finding this site about world libraries is that I found out information useful for my students, creating a local impact.  Bibliothèques sans frontiers (2014) has translated a number of the Khan Academy (Khan Academy 2014) math lessons into French.  This is a resource developed in the “US” to help children learn.  I have heard this is a great resource for students, so finding it in French has been a bonus that I will be sharing with my colleagues in my School District and the parents of my students!

The article by Curry, and the idea of assisting in developing world libraries has a link to our library education at UBC (LLED452; Vacca et al 2011) where we are encouraged to purchase multicultural literature to reflect our student population, so all students can see themselves in literature.  I checked out some other sites and realized there groups that support worldwide literacy whose websites don’t identify if they consider if the content of the books they are sending is multicultural (Book Aid International, 2014).  Then I found SCECSAL an African Library Association (SESCAL 2012) that has conferences to promote literacy and health.  One of the posts I read talks about developing regional school libraries in Zimbabwe.  I realize that these local people should be consulted to figure out how to best help with improving libraries in Africa.
Next I explored the development of internet access for access to digital library resources.  I listened to an interesting podcast  which talks about where internet is available in the world, a requirement for digital world libraries to download resources.  They mention that South Korea is the most wired nation and that rural areas of inland India, China and the southern Sahara are the least wired locations in the world.  I read another post that identified that libraries may not need internet, but could work with cellular service (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation 2013).  In rural Ghana, a library uses text messaging to provide pregnancy health information to expectant mothers.  This delivery of “library” information has increased pre-natal visits and cut infant mortality.  The delivery of this second service focused on needs of local people is one of the areas that SCESCAL promotes.  

I feel I have barely looked at this complex topic and I require much more information to really get a good grasp on how to help appropriately to develop world libraries. 

References
Bibliothèques sans frontières. 2014.  Areas of intervention.  Retrieved Feb 20, 2014 from http://www.librarieswithoutborders.org/.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 2013.  Impatient Optimists.  Retrieved Feb 24, 2014 from http://www.impatientoptimists.org/Posts/2013/11/How-a-Modern-Library-Keeps-Mothers-Healthy-in-Rural-Ghana.

Book Aid.  2014.  Book Aid International. http://www.bookaid.org/publisher/the-books-we-need/

Corporate Crime and Violence.  1987.  Infant Formula, hawking disaster in the third world.  Retrieved Feb 27, 2014 from http://multinationalmonitor.org/hyper/issues/1987/04/formula.html

Curry, A. and T. Thiessen and L. Kelley.  2002.  Library Aid to developing counties in times of globalization: a literature review.  Retrieved Feb 20, 2014 from http://www.worlib.org/vol12no2/curry_v12n2.shtml.

Freakonomics.  Who runs the internet a Freakonomics radio podcast.  Retrieved Feb 20, 2014 from http://freakonomics.com/2013/11/14/who-runs-the-internet-a-new-freakonomics-radio-podcast/

Khan Academy.  2014.  Retrieved Feb 27, 2014 from https://www.khanacademy.org/

Khan Academy avec Bibliothèques sans frontières.  2014.  Khan Academy.  Retrieved Feb 27, 2014 from http://www.khan-academy.fr/

SCECSAL Forum.  2012.  Regional School Library Seminar in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.  Retrieved March 2, 2014 from http://scecsal.blogspot.ca/search/label/school%20libraries

Vacca R., Vacca, J., and M. Mraz.  (2011)  Content Area Reading, Literacy and Learning Across the Curriculum, Tenth Edition.  Pearson Education Inc.  Boston, USA