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Knowledge for rural Knowledge for rural development : New role development : New role
for librariesfor libraries
By By Dr M Ishwara BhatDr M Ishwara Bhat
LibrarianLibrarianBirla Institute of Technology and ScienceBirla Institute of Technology and Science
Pilani (Rajasthan, India)Pilani (Rajasthan, India)PIN 333 031PIN 333 031
Email : Email : [email protected]@bits-pilani.ac.in
Scope of the paper : Information Scope of the paper : Information services which energize rural services which energize rural developmentdevelopment
Studies have proved that Studies have proved that information services go a long way information services go a long way in catalyzing rural developmentin catalyzing rural development
Critical information requirements Critical information requirements of rural personsof rural persons
Meteorological information relating to local area; Meteorological information relating to local area; Market prices for produces; Government schemes Market prices for produces; Government schemes for the poor; Cattle and feeds; Agricultural for the poor; Cattle and feeds; Agricultural information (Disease control; Paddy cultivation information (Disease control; Paddy cultivation methods); Availability of vaccines and medicines methods); Availability of vaccines and medicines in health centers; Wages fixed by the government; in health centers; Wages fixed by the government; Rules and regulations of employment exchange; Rules and regulations of employment exchange; Yellow pages (addresses of doctors, carpenters, Yellow pages (addresses of doctors, carpenters, masonry people, government officials etc); Bus masonry people, government officials etc); Bus timings; Availability of food grains in the fair price timings; Availability of food grains in the fair price shop; Fish segregation over the coast etc.shop; Fish segregation over the coast etc.
Examples of information Examples of information requirements for a farmerrequirements for a farmer
Traditional library services vis-a-vis Development Traditional library services vis-a-vis Development agenda – Where is the mismatch ?agenda – Where is the mismatch ?
-All our libraries, including digital libraries and -All our libraries, including digital libraries and internet serve only a fraction of human kind.internet serve only a fraction of human kind.
-Poor people, in their struggle to keep body and soul, -Poor people, in their struggle to keep body and soul, cannot think of information and libraries.cannot think of information and libraries.
-Information our libraries contain is outdated and not -Information our libraries contain is outdated and not of much use to the poor.of much use to the poor.
--Information we have cannot be understood easily Information we have cannot be understood easily
- because of language barriers and technical details.- because of language barriers and technical details.
-Information cannot be accessed by the poor people -Information cannot be accessed by the poor people easily; they find barriers in our libraries.easily; they find barriers in our libraries.
-Information in our libraries is irrelevant to a poor -Information in our libraries is irrelevant to a poor person.person.
-Our ICT applications are beyond the reach of the poor.-Our ICT applications are beyond the reach of the poor.
Village Knowledge Centres (VKC), PondicherryVillage Knowledge Centres (VKC), Pondicherry
Application of ICT for providing knowledge to rural Application of ICT for providing knowledge to rural poor.poor.
Hub and spokes model. 10 VKCs around one hub; Hub and spokes model. 10 VKCs around one hub; Linked by wireless internet.Linked by wireless internet.
Located in schools, panchayats, temples etc.Located in schools, panchayats, temples etc.
Information required for the farmers, fishermen is Information required for the farmers, fishermen is collected locally and made available on daily basis.collected locally and made available on daily basis.
Over 100 databases have been built locally.Over 100 databases have been built locally.
Public address system is used for announcing Public address system is used for announcing important news.important news.
Daily newspaper – Farmer’s Dairy.Daily newspaper – Farmer’s Dairy. Training programs for the women for income Training programs for the women for income
generation.generation. Online videoconferencing with government officials, Online videoconferencing with government officials,
medical specialists etc.medical specialists etc. Managed by volunteers, mainly women.Managed by volunteers, mainly women. Training and hardware provided by M S Training and hardware provided by M S
Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai. <http://www.mssrf.org/><http://www.mssrf.org/>
Volunteers and space for the VKCs are provided by Volunteers and space for the VKCs are provided by the people.the people.
Information updated over wireless network, Information updated over wireless network, sometimes twice a day.sometimes twice a day.
VKCs have become hub for social gatherings.VKCs have become hub for social gatherings.
Reference: Reference: http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~chan/istb01/readings/http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~chan/istb01/readings/
ICTenabledknowledge.pdfICTenabledknowledge.pdf
READ Foundation, NepalREAD Foundation, Nepal
Runs 45 rural libraries in Nepal.Runs 45 rural libraries in Nepal.
Each library has 3000 – 5000 books.Each library has 3000 – 5000 books.
Has a multimedia center and 5 computers and Has a multimedia center and 5 computers and internet.internet.
Brings out newsletters and online bulletins. Brings out newsletters and online bulletins. Subjects are : Agricultural information; Subjects are : Agricultural information; Microfinance; Commodity prices; Investment etc.Microfinance; Commodity prices; Investment etc.
Also audio and videos for those who cannot read.Also audio and videos for those who cannot read.
Libraries also serve as hubs for many Libraries also serve as hubs for many awareness camps and workshops.awareness camps and workshops.
Social services are organized in partnership Social services are organized in partnership with universities; civil society etc.with universities; civil society etc.
Has a sustainable economy model.Has a sustainable economy model. Library serves as a common place for Library serves as a common place for
women and children to sit and discuss their women and children to sit and discuss their problems.problems.
Reference:Reference:
http://www.readnepal.org/projects/projects2.htmhttp://www.readnepal.org/projects/projects2.htm
Boat Libraries in BangladeshBoat Libraries in Bangladesh
Started by a NGO Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha in 2002.Started by a NGO Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha in 2002.
Managed by volunteers.Managed by volunteers.
Covers a radius of 240 kms of rivers, streams, and wetlands in Natore, Pabna Covers a radius of 240 kms of rivers, streams, and wetlands in Natore, Pabna & Sirajganj districts.& Sirajganj districts.
Shidhulai runs 21 boat libraries (besides 5 boats for agricultural training, 5 Shidhulai runs 21 boat libraries (besides 5 boats for agricultural training, 5 boats for healthcare, 4 boats for evening educational shows, 7 boats for boats for healthcare, 4 boats for evening educational shows, 7 boats for holding workshops).holding workshops).
Each library has 5 computers with internet access, 1500 books, 50 periodicals Each library has 5 computers with internet access, 1500 books, 50 periodicals and 5 newspapers. Library makes 4 stops during the day, each stay is of 2-3 and 5 newspapers. Library makes 4 stops during the day, each stay is of 2-3 hours in a place. hours in a place.
3 volunteers manage one boat library.3 volunteers manage one boat library.
Serves 88000 families.Serves 88000 families.
Locally produced content on Human Rights, Women’s Rights, Locally produced content on Human Rights, Women’s Rights, Biodiversity, Environment etc are made available.Biodiversity, Environment etc are made available.
Information on agriculture, modern farming; pest management; Information on agriculture, modern farming; pest management; fisheries, commodity prices are also made available on the fisheries, commodity prices are also made available on the computer. computer.
Contents tailored to both literates and illiterates. Multimedia Contents tailored to both literates and illiterates. Multimedia programs available. programs available.
70% of the beneficiaries are women.70% of the beneficiaries are women.
Farmers send their agricultural problems by e-mail which are Farmers send their agricultural problems by e-mail which are answered by specialistsanswered by specialists
Reference:Reference: http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/pub136/pub136.pdfhttp://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/pub136/pub136.pdf
Chiwamba Community Information Center, Malawi, Chiwamba Community Information Center, Malawi, AfricaAfrica
Situated about 45 kms east of Lilongwe, capital of Malawi; Situated about 45 kms east of Lilongwe, capital of Malawi; provides the following services :provides the following services :
Reading and borrowing; books for formal education, Reading and borrowing; books for formal education, income generation, adult literacy and recreation.income generation, adult literacy and recreation.
Video shows offering development Video shows offering development information, publicized through notice information, publicized through notice boards.boards.
A community newsletter which is displayed A community newsletter which is displayed in strategic locations such as churches, in strategic locations such as churches, market places etc.market places etc.
Literacy classes.Literacy classes.
Talks and meetings by specialists in small business, Talks and meetings by specialists in small business, agriculture, community development; health etc.agriculture, community development; health etc.
Games.Games.
Cultural activities – drama clubs.Cultural activities – drama clubs.
Produces locally made information materials on agriculture, Produces locally made information materials on agriculture, health and literacy.health and literacy.
Managed by the community, with volunteers. Only one Managed by the community, with volunteers. Only one information staff.information staff.
Supported by IDRC Canada initially. Now managed by Supported by IDRC Canada initially. Now managed by Malawi National Library Service.Malawi National Library Service.
Reference :Reference :
http://www.bookaid.org/resources/downloads/Libraries_Literhttp://www.bookaid.org/resources/downloads/Libraries_Literacy_Poverty_Reduction.pdfacy_Poverty_Reduction.pdf
Illubabor Community Library and Information Centres, Illubabor Community Library and Information Centres, Rural EthiopiaRural Ethiopia
12 Government reading rooms in rural Ethiopia were 12 Government reading rooms in rural Ethiopia were transformed into vibrant LICs.transformed into vibrant LICs.
Community LICs were linked with social development Community LICs were linked with social development plans.plans.
A vibrant civil society was formed around the A vibrant civil society was formed around the LICs diversifying services to all sections of LICs diversifying services to all sections of society, including semi-literates.society, including semi-literates.
Agriculture and Health are the priority areas; Agriculture and Health are the priority areas; besides pressing social problems such as Family besides pressing social problems such as Family Planning, HIV- AIDS, food security etc.Planning, HIV- AIDS, food security etc.
Knowledge of local people used to solve problems; Knowledge of local people used to solve problems; traditional knowledge was shared.traditional knowledge was shared.
Materials were published in local language, Materials were published in local language, Oromifa.Oromifa.
For sustainability, resource generating schemes were For sustainability, resource generating schemes were started;started;
ICTs were introduced.ICTs were introduced.
Lectures and workshops, literacy classes, writing Lectures and workshops, literacy classes, writing contests, drama and poetry programs, cultural contests, drama and poetry programs, cultural events and quizzes were organized.events and quizzes were organized.
Libraries have become places to encounter local Libraries have become places to encounter local action and dialogue.action and dialogue.
Project supported by Oxfam, Canada.Project supported by Oxfam, Canada.
Reference :Reference : http://www.bookaid.org/resources/downloads/Librarhttp://www.bookaid.org/resources/downloads/Libraries_Literacy_Poverty_Reduction.pdfies_Literacy_Poverty_Reduction.pdf
What is common in all these ?What is common in all these ? Libraries have become hub of community Libraries have become hub of community
development programs (not merely repositories of development programs (not merely repositories of knowledge or recreation materials)knowledge or recreation materials)
Local content is generated and disseminated, Local content is generated and disseminated, Librarians are content creators/facilitators.Librarians are content creators/facilitators.
Schemes have to be sustainable.Schemes have to be sustainable.
A blend of various technologies are required to suit A blend of various technologies are required to suit the needs of different kinds of usersthe needs of different kinds of users
Libraries facilitate knowledge sharing, not Libraries facilitate knowledge sharing, not merely knowledge finding.merely knowledge finding.
Knowledge is to be presented in a way the poor Knowledge is to be presented in a way the poor can understand and take action; Work beyond can understand and take action; Work beyond traditional librarianship.traditional librarianship.
Libraries work closely with the civil society and Libraries work closely with the civil society and also other organizations for resources and also other organizations for resources and expertise.expertise.
Which way to goWhich way to go
Pilot development focused library projects.Pilot development focused library projects. Intensive research into the information needs of Intensive research into the information needs of
rural peoplerural people No ‘one size fits all’ approachNo ‘one size fits all’ approach Information needs to be repackagedInformation needs to be repackaged Technology has to be appropriate to the situationTechnology has to be appropriate to the situation Training programmes in development Training programmes in development
information work information work Develop a synergy with all organizations involved Develop a synergy with all organizations involved
in development agenda.in development agenda.
“ “ For those in need, access to information by itself is For those in need, access to information by itself is often not enough to solve a person’s problems. Very often not enough to solve a person’s problems. Very often the information has to be linked to action and often the information has to be linked to action and this requires the involvement of a variety of this requires the involvement of a variety of community groups, self help organizations and the community groups, self help organizations and the like”like”
British Librarian, Dr B UsherwoodBritish Librarian, Dr B Usherwood
