WebJunction

I’d like to warmly welcome everyone to WebJunction’s special online event on Public Access Computing Around the World.

Over the last few years, we have seen a dramatic transformation of public libraries in the US with the introduction of computers and the Internet. This same seismic shift is rippling throughout the world as libraries of all sizes and means join the effort to connect their staff and patrons with computing technology. We hope to discover the challenges and successes experienced by the global community of libraries.

I am pleased to introduce our special guest moderators for this event:

Nancy Bolt is a retired Colorado State Librarian and is the Project manager for the [url http://www.lib.bg/ABLE.htm ]American Bulgarian Library Exchange Project[/url]. Read her article [url http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=10725 ]Public Access Computing in Bulgaria[/url] for a description of the program.

Pilar Pacheco is a Training Area Coordinator with the [url http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Libraries/InternationalLibraryInitiatives/LibraryProjectChile/default.htm ]BiblioRedes Project[/url] in Chile. The project, which was launched in 2001 with a grant from the Gates Foundation, has brought Internet access to 368 libraries throughout Chile. Read about one of them in the rural community of Puqueldon in the May [url http://webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=548 ]Library of the Month[/url].

Enzo Abbagliati, Coordinator of Operations for the [url http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Libraries/InternationalLibraryInitiatives/LibraryProjectChile/default.htm ]BiblioRedes Project[/url], will step in for Pilar on Wednesday while she is out in the field training.

For the next three days, we’ll concentrate our conversation on these focal challenges to introducing public access computing:

1. identifying libraries that have the necessary infrastructure; acquiring the hardware and the network connections; finding solutions for difficult and remote situations
2. training trainers and staff in the use of the new tools; addressing concerns of time and resource management
3. attracting patrons to the new opportunities; sharing success stories and innovative programs using public access computers

Although there are many political issues around freedom of access to information and government support (or lack of) for public institutions, this is not the focus of our discussion. WebJunction’s mission is to provide resources to help libraries do their work, so I will steer the conversation away from political rants and toward the more on-the-ground tasks.

Please note that this discussion crosses all time zones. Nancy and I are on Pacific Standard Time. Pilar and Enzo are three hours earlier. We will all have to accommodate the lag time in our discussion and responses.

I’m looking forward to a lively and global conversation!

Hello,

My name is Rose Nelson and I am a Technology Consultant at the Colorado State Library. I have administered the varies Gates grants that have come to libraries in our state and also worked with an Internet connectivity grant several years ago and continue to help libraries seek funds through the E-rate program. In the U.S. we are assessed a "universal service charge" for our long distance phone service. Part of the funds from this universal service program, supplement phone service and Internet access for schools and libraries.
This program called E-rate has helped thousands of schools and libraries pay for broadband connections and projects and phone service. The program does involve lots of paperwork and can be quite onerous for very small schools and libraries.

Over the past 5 1/2 years, more of our libraries have obtained broadband connections through grants and the E-rate program. However, what we are finding is that there is still a VERY strong need for training and support. Libraries do have a lot more options available to them, especially with the development of WebJunction and the online tutorials/courses. However, we still face the challenge of staff time and budget for training. The State Library and CLiC, another agency that provides support to libraries, continue to offer various workshops, but how do we get to libraries that can't even send staff to training because they are a one person shop and can't close the library even for a day? Often times, these are the libraries that need the training the most.

After reading some of the other posts, I see that library needs are relative to each individual country. However, it does seem like the need for training and support is common just about everywhere.

From a cold but sunny autumn morning in Santiago de Chile, hola a todos!!!!

My name is Enzo Abbagliati and I'm the Operations Coordinator of BiblioRedes. I coordinate a national team in charge of implementing in all the public libraries the goods and services that BiblioRedes create for the public, assuring that the library staff throughout Chile have the knowledge, skills and means to deliver those services to the public. As part of my duty, keeping a constant supervision of the quality standards related to these services is a basic task. Also, I am constantly monitoring the advancements in the annuals goals of BiblioRedes (number of patrons being trained, number of patrons registered as users of BiblioRedes in the libraries, number of web sites published by the community using the BiblioRedes' web site publishih tools, etc). So, basically, I'm the "bad guy" in the movie called BiblioRedes.

Because of my function in BiblioRedes, some of the issues mentioned in yesterday's posts are my daily challenges.

Regarding what Rose posted, for us the one-person-libraries, it´s a big problem. Almost 1 out 3 of our libraries suffer that problem, so when the staff training cycles mentioned by Pilar begin, we have to combined the lab training with the on-the-field training (at least 2 days per library). We have tried to use other learning means (basic e-learning) but the library staff are still reluctant to use this road cause they don´t enough time. The on-the-field training, although expensive, is the most effective mean to assure that staff develops the skills needed.

Rose pointed out also the importance of a strong government support to pay for Internet connectivity in libraries. From our experience, a 4000 kilometers long and 150 kilometers thin country, with several geographic barriers affecting communications (and, thus, increasing its costs), having that support is a key factor in order to assure that free and equal to Internet-located information is a real opportunity. Fortunately, BiblioRedes obtained the funds from the government to create a National Digital Equity Fund, that allows us to subsidize the monthly fees of those libraries serving communities with a poverty rate above certain level and monthly Internet fees above US$ 170. As you may be suspecting, usually the poorest communities are the most isolated and remote ones, so the Internet fees are the most expensives (cause they have to access Internet through satellite technology, Vsat in our case). Although not perfect, this Fund supports as much as 60% of the most expensive connections.

Finally, a suggestion for Joe's local intiative research. There is a public library south of Santiago, the Puente Alto Public Library, that implemented PAC before BiblioRedes, so BiblioRedes is just a complement for their truly local effort. Recently, it's children's web site (www.biblioninos.cl) won a UNESCO Latin America prize. Perhaps it can be useful for your research.

Enzo.

Hi all,

My name is Mary Ellen Lawrence (currently unemployed) and I lived and worked in Florence Italy for about 10 years. While there I started a librarian’s network group for resource and information sharing. Our resource sharing method was mostly articles from journals which could easily be faxed, and we opened our libraries up to students from other institutions, we had guest speakers come in and talk and demonstrated to each other what resources we had that might be useful for clients. It was successful! We had participants from American institutions and Italian institutions. To this day we are still friends and colleagues.

My experiences as a librarian in Italy taught me several things that might be useful for this forum. All the items mentioned by Nancy Bolt and Stuart I had to confront too! I also had a group of highly intellectual users who were intimidated by “new” technology and use of databases. There is nothing like patient one on one to change the way users access information via computers.

I think the same for professional librarian groups. They are necessary - especially if your library culture does not support innovation, as many don’t. We need the support and innovation from others to keep us going. This seems especially true overseas.

Reflecting back, I realize that the single most important item missing from Italian libraries at that time (4 years ago) was a library school! A school in which a climate of public service could be engendered, where technology could be taught and reduce the fear of using it for the library staff and as Nancy so aptly stated, change the culture from change from “museums of books” to vibrant centers of information”.

I know that 10-12 library staff people from the university of Florence went to England and took a distance learning course to obtain their library degree – they felt very proud – and rightly so, it was not easy! Now, I understand that a library school has been set up in Parma – but I have no verification on that. Does anyone have comments?
(I just added this as a topic for discussion)
Thanks for putting this forum on – this is a great idea and I am happy to participate!!

Hi Mary Ellen,
You raise several good points. Bulgaria has three library schools, one mainly at the undergraduate level. There are lots of professional librarians in Bulgaria. Their model is more the teacher model in the United States -- undergraduate degree is the entry to the profession with a master's the next level.

One other thing the Bulgarians have that you don't mention is a relatively strong national library association. It has been growing in strength over the last few years but they have not done very much legislative advocacy. That's kind of a new concept.

But if Bulgaria or any country is going to get the kind of national support for telecommunications or libraries, there needs to be a strong advocacy effort.

I might also mention that when Bulgaria needed to find a community agency to offer information over computers to the public, their first choice was the local post office, even though the PO staff were neither trained nor interested in helping people find that information. We are trying to make the point that libraries are more appropriate locations.

Nancy

Hola a todos, I am Hector Marino, very popular in the Americas. Now I have something good to share:

DES PLAINES PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD SELECTS SISTER LIBRARY
The Des Plaines Public Library Board of Trustees has agreed to enter into a Sister Libraries agreement with the Benjamin Franklin Library in Guadalajara, Mexico for the mutual benefit of the two libraries, library users, and library staff. The action was taken at the May 17 meeting of the Library Board. The 2000 census reports more than 14 percent of the residents of Des Plaines as Hispanic in origin, and current estimates are higher. Goals of the Sister Libraries agreement include providing opportunities for cultural exchange, acquisition of materials, and staff training that is mutually beneficial. Both libraries will seek funding from governmental and private sources. The Sister Libraries program was organized by the American Library Association to build relationships with libraries in other cultures that can help us learn, understand and better serve our own community.
Here is a summary of the key points of the Sister Libraries letter:

LETTER OF INTENT TO FORMALIZE A SPECIFIC AGREEMENT OF
COLLABORATION BETWEEN

Benjamin Franklin Library, University of Guadalajara, Mexico and the Des Plaines Public Library, Des Plaines, Illinois, USA.
In the spirit of international cooperation among libraries and, for the development of services and information professionals under the auspices of the (American Library Association) Sister Libraries program, the above institutions agree to formalize a specific agreement of collaboration for their mutual benefit.

The objectives of this collaboration are:

To demonstrate the importance and benefits of international library cooperation between Mexico and the United States of America.
To promote cooperation and the exchange of ideas among librarians for solutions to common challenges.
To raise awareness among librarians of the issues facing public libraries of both countries.
To create opportunities for learning and understanding in the libraries by learning and understanding the users who come from other parts of the world, in this case, Mexico and the United States of America.
To share techniques and technologies to help solve problems.
To provide resources and training to strengthen library institutions
To increase the different kinds of interactions among the librarians.
To share information resources to support the different information needs of the librarians and users.

Both institutions will look for joint opportunities of financing to support their objectives, in government institutions, non-government institutions, civil associations, cooperative programs between the United States of North America and Mexico, and sources from the private sector.

Also, any expense made prior to the signature of the agreement will be the sole responsibility of each institution.

Hector Marino
REFORMA International
ALA, Americas and Sister Libraries Committees