[governance] Dynamic Coalition on Public Access in Libraries

Tue Mar 6 06:37:19 EST 2012

Congratulations Stuart!!!

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 10:40 PM, Baudouin Schombe <
baudouin.schombe at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello Stuart,
>
> This is a very good information because our structure is facing
> difficulties to implement community access centers with libraries, despite
> the need felt and expressed.
>
> We accept and join to this platform
>
> Baudouin
>
> 2012/3/5 Stuart Hamilton <Stuart.Hamilton at ifla.org>
>
>> Dear Colleagues****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> I am pleased to inform you of a new Dynamic Coalition on Public Access in
>> Libraries which has been approved by the IGF Secretariat. The International
>> Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and Electronic
>> Information for Libraries (EIFL) are the organisers of this coalition and,
>> as is traditional, we are now seeking further interested members who are
>> interested in the topic and wish to be kept informed of the DC’s
>> activities, discussions and progress. This email gives some background on
>> the DC, and further information is available on request.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> *Background*
>>
>> * *
>>
>> At the IGF 2011, Electronic Information for Libraries (EIFL) organised a
>> workshop to discuss the findings of a recent study of perceptions of public
>> libraries by policy makers in six countries in Africa. The study revealed
>> that policy makers still think of libraries in terms of printed media, and
>> not as spaces for catalysing internet access and use. Evidence was
>> presented that public libraries that offer innovative and ICT enabled
>> services based on free public access to the Internet can contribute to
>> positive change in their communities and support development goals in vital
>> areas including health, agriculture, employment, education and children and
>> youth at risk. The lively workshop discussion underlined the need for a
>> shared vision and dialogue by policy makers, civil society, private
>> industry and librarians, on how Internet-enabled public libraries can
>> contribute to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The workshop
>> discussion finished with an agreement between participants to move ahead
>> with the creation of a Dynamic Coalition on Public Access in Libraries to
>> explore these issues further in an IGF setting.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> *Necessity*
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> While the number of Internet users worldwide now tops two billion, it is
>> important to remember that a significant percentage will not have their own
>> network connection. Instead, hundreds of millions of people utilise the
>> Internet through shared connections, or through providers of public access
>> to the Internet such as libraries. It will not be possible to maintain or
>> increase the number of worldwide users without continued support for public
>> access to the Internet – something that is even more important in times of
>> financial austerity when the role of public libraries, and the gateways
>> they offer to free or low-cost Internet access, becomes even more crucial
>> to people’s opportunities in areas such as employment, education and health.
>> ****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> However, libraries still remain largely overlooked as community
>> development partners. Within the context of the IGF, no arena currently
>> exists for the discussion of Internet governance issues relating to public
>> access intermediaries such as public libraries. Public access to the
>> Internet is tackled in a cross-programme sense, but the sheer reach of
>> libraries – there are over one billion registered library users on the
>> planet – demands that special attention be paid to the challenges and
>> opportunities faced and offered by these crucial institutions. Everyday
>> libraries face challenges offered by serving disparate user groups –
>> children and young people, the unemployed, the elderly, the disabled and
>> many other mainstream and marginalised groups. They may be the only places
>> in communities that allow access to social media or Internet telephony, or
>> provide gateways to e-government services. Public library staff must be
>> aware of and able to serve the needs of users, while at the same time
>> remaining aware of privacy and human rights issues. ****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> The formation of a new Dynamic Coalition on Public Access in Libraries
>> creates a space within the IGF to address the Internet governance issues
>> relating to public access, and will enable a discussion to take place about
>> how the existing expertise, networks and infrastructure offered by public
>> libraries can contribute to the goals and spirit of the WSIS process. This
>> discussion would be truly multi-stakeholder – public libraries are funded
>> by the taxpayer and embedded in government infrastructure, they are
>> frequented by members of civil society and the entrepreneurs behind SMEs,
>> and they frequently partner with the private sector to provide buildings
>> and services. A Dynamic Coalition on Public Access in Libraries would
>> benefit from the participation of representatives from all these groups.*
>> ***
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> *Objectives*
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> **·         **To place public access to the Internet through public
>> libraries on the agenda of the IGF as a cross-cutting issue on a number of
>> IGF key themes e.g. Internet Governance and Development; Access and
>> Diversity; Security, Openness and Privacy; Youth. ****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> **·         **To ensure that representatives of libraries and their
>> users are consulted on issues of Internet Governance within, and outside
>> of, the context of the IGF.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> **·         **To create a dialogue between library representatives and
>> policy makers on the potential of public libraries in major policy areas
>> such as social cohesion, education, employment, community development,
>> health and agriculture,  in pursuit of sustainable funding and favourable
>> policies towards libraries.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> **·         **To feed in IGF-related activities to existing EIFL and
>> IFLA work programmes for ICTD in 2012 and beyond, such as the Beyond Access
>> Campaign on libraries and development, European Union activities on
>> e-Inclusion and the IFLA World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) in
>> Helsinki in August 2012.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> *Interested Members?*
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> We are seeking interested organisations and individuals from all
>> stakeholder groups to contribute to the work of the Dynamic Coalition. As
>> with other coalitions, collaboration can range from following and
>> participating in discussions on the DC mailing list, to active
>> participation in workshops and events at the main IGF and related
>> regional/national IGFs. IFLA and EIFL already plan to participate at the
>> EuroDIG, and those interested in this topic may also be interested in the
>> forthcoming Beyond Access Campaign (http://www.beyondaccesscampaign.org/)
>> which works to promote the role of public libraries in delivering
>> development goals. *Please send me (stuart.hamilton at ifla.org)  an email
>> with your/your organisation’s details if you are interested in being a
>> member of this DC.*
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> I apologise for the long email but I hope that this background
>> information is useful. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require
>> any further information.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Kind regards,****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Stuart****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Stuart Hamilton****
>>
>> Director of Policy and Advocacy****
>>
>> International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)*
>> ***
>>
>> P.O. Box 95312
>> 2509 CH The Hague
>> Netherlands****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> 00 31 70 314 0884****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Twitter: @iflaspa****
>>
>> ** **
>>
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>
>
> --
> SCHOMBE BAUDOUIN
> CENTRE AFRICAIN D'ECHANGE CULTUREL/
> ACADEMIE DES TIC
> FACILITATEUR GAID/AFRIQUE Membre
> At-Large Member
> NCSG Member
>
> email:baudouin.schombe at gmail.com
>          baudouin.schombe at ticafrica.net
> tél:+243998983491
> skype:b.schombe
> wite web:http://webmail.ticafrica.net
> blog:http://akimambo.unblog.fr
>
>
> ____________________________________________________________
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-- 
Salanieta Tamanikaiwaimaro aka Sala

Tweeter: @SalanietaT
Skype:Salanieta.Tamanikaiwaimaro
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