Pedro Pereira Neto - Social Inclusion, ICTs, And Cultural and Memory Organizations

8/9/2019 Pedro Pereira Neto - Social Inclusion, ICTs, And Cultural and Memory Organizations

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SOCIAL INCLUSION, ICTS, AND CULTURALAND MEMORY ORGANIZATIONS:

ANINSIGHTTOTHE PORTUGUESESTATE-OF-THE-ART

0. Addressing Social Exclusion

As a starting point to a venture such as the one intended, a clearly

identifiable definition for the concept ofsocial exclusion is needed, so to

establish the phenomena addressed by the action of the CMOs subject

to analysis. In this sense, we draw on the Community Services Group

postulate, according to which social exclusion focuses on the needs of

groups and individuals who are excluded from services (as those offered

by libraries, museums and archives) (Community Services Group, xxxx).

Stating that () people with certain backgrounds and

experiences are disproportionately likely to suffer social exclusion

(Community Services Group, xxxx), the same study holds that among the

risk factors considered to play a key role are contexts such as those of

() low income; family conflict; being in care; school problems; being

an ex-prisoner; being from an ethnic minority; living in a deprived

neighbourhood in urban and rural areas; mental health problems, age

and disability (), refugees and asylum seekers, travellers who are not

considered to be from an ethnic minority, and LGBTs (lesbians, gay men,

bisexuals and transgendered people, people with basic skills needs,

single parents (Community Services Group, xxxx), as well as the

unemployed.

At the level of identifiable social dynamics, there is a different

approach possible, which regards the defining characteristics of social

exclusion, namely () the habit of non-participation, the habit of

isolation, and a perceived lack of opportunity and choice (Community

Services Group, xxxx), as well as lack of access to power, knowledge

services and facilities.

1. ICTs and Social Inclusion


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According to a cyber-optimistic perspective, current technology

allows, as never before in the History of Mankind, for the broadcasting

and enhancing of knowledge and available information (Oliveira, 2000).Ongoing processes of informationalization and globalization of western

societies, motivated by diverse networks of power and technology, are

reshaping the world (Castells, 1997). Assuming, as Paquete de Oliveira

does, that Information is the new name for Development, and that

Knowledge is the new indicator for a nations or regions wealth and

heritage (Oliveira, 2000), information-based processes of decision

making are changing the lives of citizens everywhere (Webster, 2001: 5),

to significant levels of extent and depth. And as Pickerill puts it, ICTs are

more than just an extension of existing forms of communication since

they offer a variety of opportunities earlier unavailable (Pickerill, 2001:

142). These are just some of the many reasons why, as Almeida writes,

the access to ICTs should be considered a pre-condition for the quality

of life every citizen is entitled to (Almeida, xxxx), and why the access to

information they make possible is crucial to the advent of an actual

intervening and informed citizen in a truly democratic society (Colodrn,

2000).

However, a technical determinism may not be any better than

other determinisms (Rocher, 1989: 26). Although it is unquestionable that

the ICTs do set new horizons for the coming of a Knowledge Society, the

latter will only come to be once the inequities inherited from the

Industrial Society are overcome, something which is not taking place

according to some scholars (Dordoy and Mellor, 2001: 173; Lyon, 1992).

As Rocher states, the technical factor is an important variable, but we

cannot assess the real influence it exerts without addressing the cultural

context in which it is inscribed (Rocher, 1989: 29). We should bear in mind

that the access to such technologies is not and will not become in the

near future universal. But, according to Hamelink, even themassification of computer usage does not, by itself, change the existing


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social inequity at the level of access to and control of such usage (Lyon,

1992; Dordoy and Mellor, 2001: 174): on the one hand, because the ICTs

themselves may well be intensifying some of these inequity generating

processes (Dordoy and Mellor, 2001: 181), since the vast majority of itsusers are among the already info-literate ones (Pickerill, 2001: 143); on

the other hand, because, as Colodrn wisely states, since social and

technological exclusion implies an absence of cultural and

technological skills, the simple access to information, even if on a free

basis, does not in itself guarantee the fulfilling of its potential benefits;

specific skills, a particular kind of technological capital, are required to

tackle it exclusion (Colodrn, 2000; Ford, Gil, 2000: 204).

2. CMOs and Social Inclusion

In accordance with Silva, information only becomes fruitful when

turned into knowledge, the true promoter of development, wealth and

well-being; the bigger the ability of a given country and its institutions to

convert information in knowledge, the bigger the potential benefits for its

citizens (Silva, 20xx). In a democratic society, Rego states, everyone must

and should be allowed the opportunity to be informed, so to exercise

competent citizenship; and this can only be possible through the access

to information (Rego, 2000).

Fritzinger writes the question of information and of information

technologies is central to libraries (Fritzinger, 2000). One of the fields in

which this statement is noticeable is its role in enhancing the knowledge

possessed by the people, and its action in compensating existing

inequities in the technological capital held by the citizens.

According to Calixto, the spreading of the use of ICTs accentuates

the importance of the social roles played by CMOs. These, particularly

public libraries, have had a democratic matrix since their birth (Calixto,

20xx), since they offer indiscriminating access to information (Colodrn,2000). In line with this scholar, democracy implies the existence of


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informed citizens, as well as social inequity regulating mechanisms of

economic, social, cultural, and educational kinds. In this sense, the

public library constitutes one of these mechanisms. However, the access,

for instance, to the digital information stored in such institutions, requiresthe use of ICTs, and the necessary skills to make use of them are often

not available for free outside the very public library (Calixto, 20xx). This is

why, again, the availability of access terminals is not enough: one must

take into consideration the conditions in which such access can, or

cannot, actually take place (Abreu, 2000). The question of access and

exclusion, Abreu says, is usually tied to physical equipment aspects,

hardware and infra-structure; but the main issue is undoubtedly cultural:

success in dealing with exclusion cannot be met by simply having

computers available and ignoring the awareness of its users (Abreu,

2000). Research has shown that low levels of literaly promote the

restriction of opportunities and the risk of social exclusion (Oliveira, 2000).

The info-exclusion phenomenon thus accompany lower, unqualified

social classes, trends which are beyond traditional teaching, and having

more to do with the social and cultural environment, and the

predisposition to the consumption of cultural products and activities

(Oliveira, 2000).

Colodrn writes, on this matter, that public libraries can contribute

to the democratization of the Information Society by helping citizens to

take part in the former not only as information consumers but also as

information producers (Colodrn, 2000). One other dimension that

should be addressed is the way in which citizen participation can be

sought and promoted at the time of reorganizing library services and

activities (Colodrn, 2000).

3. The Portuguese state-of-the-art: past and present


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() ten years ago () the general feeling () was

that the new technologies () were for specialized

libraries only (). Ten years ago () our priorities were

centered around the construction of base infra-structures, i.e., libraries (). From our initial concerns

about routines() we quickly started to grasp

technologies as a means to the very supplying of

information, and new possibilities, new roles and new

services started to shape (). And we also started to

understand that we could be an entry point into

technologies, and also of technology teaching, so

important for large sectors of our communities,

particularly the most fragile ones economic- and

social-wise

(Calixto, 20xx).

According to Colodrn, Portugal illustrates the successful national

strategies implemented in some countries, showing quite extraordinary

results in a very short time span (Colodrn, 2000). Oliveira, on this matter,

writes that the existing and expanding public library national network is a

remarkable example of successful policies, and one of the most relevant

cultural policy facts of the modern Portugal (Oliveira, 2000). Along with

his views, and concerning the use of new technologies, this southern

European country is all the more justly considered an interesting case

study (Oliveira, 2000).

In 1992 the RILP Rede Informtica de Leitura Pblica (Public

Reading Informatic Network) began being set (Calixto, 20xx). There

are, Calixto holds, clear indicators of the role public libraries have played

since then, in terms of tackling social exclusion and access inequities to

cultural and informative assets (Calixto, 20xx).

In 1997 the Livro Verde Para A Sociedade Da Informao EmPortugal (Green Book for the Information Society in Portugal) was


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published, setting nation-wide policies to foster technological, cultural

and social developments and to prevent the emergence of a class of

info-excluded citizens, in which considerations were made about the

privileged position held by the public libraries for dealing with info-exclusion (Calixto, 20xx; Livro Verde Para a Sociedade da Informao,

1997) such as the one in which it is clearly stated that Public libraries

should and ought to be an open door to the new world of digital and

multimedia information, access point to the cyberspace for those that,

for socio-economic and cultural reasons, dont have from beginning,

means to do it at home (Livro Verde Para a Sociedade da Informao,

1997.

The Instituto Portugus do Livro e das Bibliotecas - IPLB

(Portuguese Institute for Books and Libraries) was set to follow objectives

in this field such as promoting new services in the public libraries network

specially those related to lifelong learning , and to reinforce the role of

the public libraries against social exclusion.

The ECDL project also allowed users to become certified, through

courses attended at several public libraries, in the use of ICTs, not only to

make the best of the existing resources at the libraries but to gather

enduring skills.

In 2000 the Ministrio da Cincia e Tecnologia (Ministry of Science

of Tecnology) conceived another national course of action, the Plano

de Aco Para uma Sociedade do Conhecimento e da Informao,

2000-2006 (Action Plan for the Knowledge and Information Society)

based on two articulated operational programs: the Programa

Operacional Cincia, Tecnologia e Inovao POCTI (Science,

Technology and Innovation Operational Program), with a mid-term

strategic orientation intended to compensate for the countrys scientific

gap; and the Programa Operacional Sociedade da Informao POSI

(Information Society Operational Program) intended to permit the

convergence of policies and sectorial programs, envisaging the


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skills of the population (through an increase in the number of young

people choosing science and technology as their studying subjects in

higher education) the Pavilho do Conhecimento and the network

Cincia Viva use new information technologies as one of theirinstruments to promote inclusion.

The Pavilion of Knowledge - Cincia Viva is an interactive science

and technology museum that has been open to the public since July

25th 1999. It is an integral part of the Cincia Viva Centres Network and

serves as both the driving force and resource centre for this network. The

main objective is to stimulate scientific knowledge and promote

scientific and technological culture among all citizens. The exhibitions

and activities proposed allow visitors to explore many wide-ranging

themes with interactive Exhibits, relaxing and having fun at the same

time. Besides the major theme exhibitions, the Pavilion of Knowledge -

Cincia Viva promotes various scientific and educational initiatives.

The Cincia Viva programme is a national initiative for scientific

and technological culture. Since 1996, true to its guiding principle of

bringing scientific and school communities together in order to improve

basic education, Cincia Viva has promoted the following projects:

support and financing for science experiment projects in schools; a

nationwide science awareness-raising network of interactive centres;

national science awareness-raising campaigns, stimulating associative

science and giving the population opportunities for scientific observation

and direct contact with experts from different fields.

The Museu Nacional de Arqueologias (National Archaeological

Museum) site on the internet was, in 2002, distinguished by UNESCO as

the worlds best site in 2002. Through their website the Museu Nacional

de Arqueologia tries to promote new links with young people,

researchers and teachers, offering access to their collections and

promoting educational tools through the Internet. Besides the exhibitions,

the Museum offers society (Portuguese and foreign) numerous otherservices; regular publications (of which the scientific magazine O


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Arquelogo Portugus, published since 1895 and the most important of

its type in Portugal and with a net of over 300 correspondent institutions

all over the World, stands out), the conservation and restoration of

archaeological goods, seminars, conferences and courses of thespeciality, an educational and cultural extension service, a specialized

library (the most important in Portugal and the only one which today

continues regularly open to the public in the group of national

museums), shop and bookshop, fundamental scientific research, etc.

The Biblioteca Municipal de Almada (Almada County Library)

works in cooperation with the regional employment agency on the

training of unemployed people in computer skills. This training tries to

ensure that all the participants will end their learning having acquired

skills on the use of Internet that will allow them to have better job

opportunities. The Biblioteca Municipal de Almada is one of the ten

libraries participating on Rede Nacional de Bibliotecas Pblicas, in

cooperation with the IPLB (Portuguese Institute of the Book and Libraries).

The libraries working on this project become certification centers for the

European Computer Drivers License.

The Fundao Mrio Soares, founded in September 12, 1991, is a

private non-profit organization related to the former President of the

Portuguese Republic, Mrio Soares, and its mission is to promote and

sponsor cultural, scientific and educational events in the human rights,

political science and international relations fields of study. Through the

Digitisation Project of the Mrio Soares Archive wishes to preserve the

Mrio Soares Archive (M.S.A.) and to gradually open it to the public.


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5. Bibliography

o Abreu, P., (2000), Uma biblioteca pblica numa sociedade de

informao obcecada pelo mercado: desafios e oportunidades,http://www.citidep.pt/papers/pfa/pfabnt.html

o Almeida, A. (2000), Tecnologias da Informao e Comunicao:

o combate info-excluso,

http://www.telecentro.org/documentacao/comb_info_exc.asp

o Biblioteca Municipal de Almada - http://www.m-

almada.pt/website/main.php?id=60

o Calixto, J.A., (1999), "As bibliotecas pblicas portuguesas face aos

desafios da sociedade da informao in Liberpolis : Revista das

bibliotecas pblicas, n2, ,

http://www.liberpolis.pt/revista/revista_1.htm

o CASTELLS, M. (1997), The Power of Identity, Oxford, Blackwell

o Colodrn, V., (2000), Resumo final da Conferncia "Bibliotecas

pblicas: Inventando o futuro",

http://rbp.iplb.pt/iniciativas/conferencia/vitoriano_colodron.html

o Community Services Group, (2002), Social inclusion and libraries: a

resource ,

http://www.cilip.org.uk/groups/csg/si/definitions.htm

o DORDOY, A. e MELLOR, M., Grassroots environmental movements

mobilization in an Information Age, in WEBSTER, F. (2001), Culture

and Politics in the Information Age A new politics?, Routledge

o FORD, T., GIL, G., Radical Internet use, in DOWNING, J. (ed.) (2000),

Radical Media rebellious communication and social movements ,

London, Sage Publications

o Fritzinger, A., (2001), Bibliothques publiques et nouvelles

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Pedro Pereira Neto - Social Inclusion, ICTs, And Cultural and Memory Organizations