Going Mobile

Question: How can mobile devices help libraries, both in developed and developing nations? Your task this week is to explore online and learn about specific library projects in a developing nation. How are they creating new literacy opportunities and expanding access to the internet and information databases? How can they best move forward to support the local needs of their communities? Also explore how mobile devices might assist in this endeavour and what new affordances they bring to the developing world that will allow them to provide greater and more democratic access to information, unfiltered and uncensored?

Access to technology is a privileges but access to information is a human right.

    Looking at my 738 sq ft apartment I recognize how even in a small space it's filled with technology. Between my partner and I there are 2 iphones, 1 laptop, 1 ipad, 2 desktop computers, a televisions, and multiple video game systems. It would not be a far reach to say that our lives revolve around technology. We are those people that when we walk into a house we look at how big the TV is because we could not image having a small screen. I spend a lot of my leisurely time watching videos on Youtube, be the informational or entertaining. My partner listens to tech and video game news through Youtube and podcasts and he shares these with me often. And the truth is the algorithm makes it hard to stop consuming mass media. We live our lives connected to the internet from the ease of quickly googling something to keeping updated with our friends and colleagues on Instagram, Facebook or Snapchat. It is hard to remember the days when social media and the internet were not instantly available at our finger tips. There are even websites like SkillShare that exist, which give access to thousands of class by industry leaders and working professionals. However, it is safe to say that "development in the 21st century demands access to information" (Hamilton). People in developed nations have this instant access, so the question becomes what can be done for those in developing countries? And how can libraries help to bridge the technology gap for citizens? 

Why we need Libraries in Developing Countries

Created by iSchool@Syracuse, Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies master of information management program

    Although I have done a lot of reading and learning about library learning commons and how to integrate technology into our students lives, I have not considered how libraries can impact developing nations. "Access to reading and learning materials in developing countries can be difficult to obtain" (World Literacy Foundation). I started first by reading a news article published in The Guardian. In his article Stamping out Poverty as well as books? How libraries support development Stuart Hamilton writes that "There are over 320,000 public libraries worldwide, 230,000 of which are in developing countries."  It also needs to be recognized books are scarce in developing countries due to the following reasons:

(1) Low priority accorded to books by the government.
(2) Lack of funds.
(3) Limited local publishing.
(4) Shortage of printing materials.
(5) Inadequate training for publishers 

                                                                                                                    (Adeoti-Adekeye)

Hamilton also states that these public libraries are being underused and that "Public libraries, if properly supported, offer their users access to resources which can help improve their economic and social wellbeing." The infrastructure of public libraries already exists and for the most part funding is dedicated by the government towards libraries. Public libraries can offer patrons "access to the internet and all the information resources it can provide," (Hamilton) along with offering meeting spaces. The World Literacy Foundation website explains that "libraries offer a chance for people to gather and learn and encourage literacy within communities, without access to these spaces literacy, poverty and poor education are widespread." It also needs to be recognized books are scarce in developing countries due to the following reasons:

SUN BOOK

    Developing countries experience high rates of illiteracy, lack of educational resources, limited access to internet & electricity in remote areas along with few resources to support teachers. To combat this The World Literacy Foundation has funded an initiative called Sun Books. The goal is to "include digital libraries into classrooms" they have done so by "incorporating learning materials and a digital library into their Sun Books Tablet." (World Literacy Foundation) They hope to eradicate illiteracy by 2040. The unfortunate reality is that many developing countries "face challenges that impede their ability to provide adequate materials." (World Literacy Foundation) These places in the world suffer due insufficient funding, lack of technology and improperly trained staffed. The World Literacy Foundation states that "Sun Books tablets have found an innovative solution to the lack of access to libraries and educational resources in the community by providing a digital library that incorporates local languages and stories into a digital format. Allowing teachers to access a wide variety of materials in the local language and English, provides children in the community the opportunity to read books and learn new materials." More information can be found on their website. 

The Biblioburro

Luis Soriano, a teacher in the small town of La Gloria, Colombia, has spent the past ten years bringing books to children of the rural communities on the back of his donkeys. 

        The Colombian teacher carries around books on his donkey and rides from village to village to engage students in reading. By crafting a makeshift library students have the ability to access read for fun. This heart warming story was also turned into a children's book I have linked a video to the read aloud below. This would not be able to work in all developing countries since most teachers would not have time or access to the resources. 

E-Books

    One of the biggest issues in schools in developing countries is that they do not have enough money to buy books. The Libraries for All program app tries to provide a scalable solution for this program. Through ereaders and ebooks students will be able to access information in developing countries. In my opinion I think this is a positive step in the right direction. E-readers can be bought at about $75 and through the use of the free app it makes access to books quick and easy. However it needs to be mentioned that perhaps these areas do not have access to internet or the infrastructure to handle the amount of technology needed for the students in these areas. Although physical books are more expensive through the use of e-readers and an application their might not be access to information from different outlets and sources, which can be important during research or when learning about the world.

Non-Profit Organization that Prompt Literacy

• Room to Read - "Its employees and volunteers have built 1,129 schools and established 9,220 bilingual libraries. It has distributed 7.4 million books, sent 8,770 girls to school on scholarships through their Girls’ Education program, and trained 6,800 teachers, principals, and librarians." (Michael, p. 68)
• Central Asia Institute - "Promote and provide community based education and literacy programs, especially for girls, in remote mountain regions of Central Asia. It has produced programs and provided services in areas of general education, women’s education, public health and conservation." (Michael, p. 68)
• HJH Libraries for All Foundation - "Currently, there are 5,000 registered patrons and a circulating collection of nine thousand books in Spanish and English. Driven by volunteer workers, HJH Libraries for All Program maintains and supports educational, language, and literacy programs through its unique donation program." (Michael, p. 68)
• BookAid - "Book Aid International is the UK’s leading international book donation and library development charity. Every year we give millions of people the opportunity to read by providing brand new books to thousands of libraries, schools, universities, refugee camps, hospitals and prisons worldwide."

BYOD 

    BYOD stands for "bring your own device", there are schools which utilize this to make sure all their students have access to come technology. By creating a 1:1 classroom with 1 student to 1 device there is always access to online information. During designated times students are given the choice of using their technological devices in their classroom. Access to technology can differ from district to district and also from school to school. There has been a large push to remove computer labs to create more room for classrooms but also to allow technology to be more easily accessible in the classrooms. In my school students had access to laptops through a cart sign out system and we utilized ipad's occasionally. I must admit that we had an accident happen where the screen on one of the school ipads broke and the district would not repair, I felt incredibly guilty and now I make sure to always remind students how to properly use devices at school. Although, accidents will happen. This year I practices a BYOD program in my own classroom and it personally was not my favorite thing. I found it hard to monitor students and what they were doing, although this has become the issue with all sorts of devices. I also limited access to just ipads and laptops since mobile devices would open doors to texting during school time and I could see further issues arising if this was allowed to happen. Overall their area pros and cons when it comes to bring your own device. In her article What is BYOD? 14 Pros and Cons Lucie Renard lists the following benefits: 

• Your students know the device
• Technology has many possibilities
• Access to cutting-edge devices
• Cost-effectiveness
• Learning outside the school hours
• Learning to respect the devices and handle with care
• Organized students

But Renard also recognizes that there are disadvantages to the BYOD system: 

• Students without devices can't participate
• Teacher's might not know how to help students with tech issues on different devices
• Using different devices means not everyone will have access to the same applications and services
• The wireless network at school might not be able to handle all the devices 
• Some parents might not understand why devices are being used
• Students can become distracted
• Students might not be responsible enough to care for their devices, forget their charger or the device might get damaged while at school

References: 

Adeoti-Adekeye, W.B. “Library Development in Developing Countries: The Role of Book Aid International in Nigeria.” The International Information & Library Review, No Longer Published by Elsevier, 25 May 2002, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1057231799901066.

Hamilton, Stuart. “Stamping out Poverty as Well as Books? How Libraries Can Support Development.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 12 Mar. 2013, www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/mar/12/libraries-power-global-development.

Michael, Athena (2010) "Libraries and Sustainability in Developing Countries: Leadership Models Based on Three Successful Organizations," Collaborative Librarianship: Vol. 2 : Iss. 2 , Article 4. Available at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/collaborativelibrarianship/vol2/iss2/4

Renard, Lucie. “What Is Byod? 14 Pros and Cons.” BookWidgets Blog, 10 Nov. 2016, www.bookwidgets.com/blog/2016/11/what-is-byod-14-pros-and-cons.

World, Literacy Foundation. “The Power of Libraries.” World Literacy Foundation, 6 Dec. 2020, worldliteracyfoundation.org/the-power-of-libraries/.