Inquiry Blog Post #4: Developing World Libraries / Mobile devices

Throughout my readings this week, I realized that efforts to make literary accessible are not new. To start the post on an interesting note, I discovered that in the 1930s some librarians were delivering books to isolated American communities on horseback. 

And almost 90 years later, book deliveries are still occurring in some isolated communities such as in Burkina Faso. However, books are no longer delivered on horseback but on motorcycles. 

Of course, it is always profitable if any profits from it. However, we are entering the technology era and mobile devices seem to be THE access tool for worldwide information. 

Where there is broadband coverage, mobile devices can really make a huge difference to general and technical education by creating so many learning opportunities. For example, a simple phone can develop creativity through games, improve literacy skills through various applications, allow acquisition of all kind of new knowledge through the WWW and develop critical thinking by being exposed to all that happens in the world. And let’s face it, Internet connection is becoming more and more accessible all over the world and that is really good news. 

In developed countries, many libraries are not able to always provide the resources needed to support students and teachers. The cost of books and technological devices is often too high to equip the school adequately, the district budget is too limited, and the funds offered by the parents' association are often insufficient or inexistent.

In developing countries, books and textbooks at local schools are scarce and often damaged and outdated. I know that for a fact as I personally visited many of those remote local schools in the South Pacific. All printed books deteriorate rapidly due to extreme humidity. Furthermore, it is not uncommon to see teachers unable to read or use the available textbooks due to language difficulties. Very sad reality indeed!

Moreover, I am not in favor of going through extensive effort to gather and ship weeded resources to remote school libraries in the world. If those resources are not good enough for us why would they be good for the less fortunate?

In any case, since technology is becoming essential in the education system and that the access to the Internet is becoming more and more accessible everywhere in the world, why not focus on mobile devices and free resources that can be accessible to all.

As the UNESCO Broadband Commission’s Working Group on Education noted in 2013, education can no longer be separated from technology and technology literacy has to become an integral part of schools programmes from primary to tertiary education (UNESCO, 2013). This statement is true to the Western world and should also be true to the rest of the world.

Now, “Why Libraries? First, because they already exist. It’s that simple. Public libraries, whatever the level of their funding, are physical places that are incorporated into government frameworks and strategies. Libraries can offer something for everyone in the community - the children and the youth, women, and girls, the vulnerable and marginalized, the entrepreneur and the established businessman, the inventor or the health worker.” (Hamilton, 2013).  

I agree with Hamilton that the entire world has a need for information and libraries can provide the answer. Libraries can be huge contributors to better societies as they offer fast (or faster) and more reliable access to the Internet and therefore, access to information, services, and expertise. 

I have seen College libraries in Micronesia filled with students from early in the morning to quite late at night taking advantage of Internet coverage to read books, listen to the news, connect with others, and watch videos. There are no doubts in my mind that mobile devices and libraries have a huge role in empowering people to better succeed in life and lifting many out of poverty.

The International Federation of Library Associations along with other associations worked really hard to put public access to information as part of the 17 Sustainable  Development goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. Precisely part of the #16 goal: Peace, Justice and strong Institutions. Since 2016, IFLA launched an International Advocacy programme to promote libraries and their important role as institutions that can create a world where no-one is left behind.

Unesco has also published a report, Reading in the Mobile Era, that confirms that mobile technology does improve literacy in developing countries. With more than 6 billion people who have access to a device and growing Internet access around the world, it is meant to make a difference.

What I liked to read that 1 out of 3 people who own a device, use her/his mobile to read stories to children. That is great. The earlier children are introduced to literacy, the better society will be.

Rumie Initiative, a non-profit from Canada: I am pretty amazed by this initiative that focuses on online free learning content which allows many children to access quality education via a LearnCloud. “Just as dispersed volunteers online created Wikipedia, the world’s largest encyclopedia, the LearnCloud’s fast-growing volunteer  community of teachers, subject area experts, and skilled practitioners are building the world largest repository of free learning content online.” (Fancy, 2016).It is amazing because everyone, you and I included, can contribute to the build-up of those free resources. 

Now, Rumie is not only a resource base initiative but also an organization that delivers low-cost tablets to offline

communities, thanks to public donations. Here is the complete Rumie story.

So yes, mobile devices are there and used. Yes, libraries are important centers for resources, services, and Internet access and effort should continue to promote both.

However, it is clear that there are still many obstacles to overcome to enable the entire world to access online information.

Governments need to show leadership in this area and need a consistent policy in place as well as a sustained financial commitment. To have access to the Internet is one thing but to have fast connectivity to access all information is something else. In order to get mobile learning possible everywhere in the world, governments need to first promote it and foster the use of technology. Then, they have to ensure affordable (still way too expensive) and equitable (no gender gap) access to the Internet. Let's face it, there are still 4 billion people who are cut off from economic and social opportunities due to lack of political power and cost.  

As additional reading material, I found the following two documents quite informative (I read them in part) in order to understand how global access to information could change the world and what remains to be done to make it possible.

Technology, Broadband, and Education 

Enabling Rural Coverage

Sources:

Hamilton, S. (2013, March 12). Stamping out poverty as well as books? How libraries can support development. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/mar/12/libraries-power-global-development

Libraries, Development and the United Nations 2030 Agenda. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ifla.org/libraries-development

UNESCO. Technology, broadband, and education: advancing the education for all agenda, the Broadband Commission’s Working Group on Education. 2013.

UNESCO study shows the effectiveness of mobile phones in promoting reading and literacy in developing countries. (2014, April 23). Retrieved from https://en.unesco.org/news/unesco-study-shows-effectiveness-mobile-phones-promoting-reading-and-literacy-developing-0

Fancy, T. (2016, June 24). From Books to Bytes – Books v. Bytes. Retrieved from https://booksvbytes.com/from-books-to-bytes-a-learning-revolution-for-the-poor-49b504b0245a

(n.d.). Retrieved from https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000219687