[Pal-dc] Powerful impact of public libraries using ICT4D

[Jean Fairbairn]

Public libraries are effective and reliable partners in community
development, reaching thousands of people with life-changing information
through library networks and branches, according to impact assessment
results of 13 innovative public library services.


The results have just been released by EIFL’s Public Library Innovation
Programme (EIFL-PLIP)<http://eifl%27s%20public%20library%20innovation%20programme%20%28eifl-plip%20-%20www.eifl.net/plip)>.
They reflect outcomes of public library services implemented from
2011-2012, working across four key community development issues –
agriculture, health, youth development and employment.


The libraries all use information and communication technology (ICT) -
computers, the internet, smart phones, community radio, web-portals, social
media and more - to serve community needs. They are changing the lives
of farmers,
vulnerable youth and other at-risk communities, job-seekers and
health-workers and their patients in three continents. To read more, click
the links below:



*Agriculture*

·       Armenia - Berd Public
Library<http://www.eifl.net/public-library-berd-community-armenia> –
increased interest in alternative farming methods.

·       Colombia - Public Library Laboratorio del Espiritu
<http://www.eifl.net/public-library-laboratorio-del-espiritu-colombia>–
trained 130 people from remote farming communities to use ICT.

·       Latvia - Klintaine Public
Library<http://www.eifl.net/klintaine-public-library-latvia> –
demonstrated the effectiveness of webinars in reaching farmers.

·       Lithuania - Pasvalys Marius Katiliskis Public
Library<http://www.eifl.net/pasvalys-marius-katiliskis-public-library-lithuani>
–
increased business and marketing opportunities for farmers.

·       Macedonia – Regional public and university library Goce
Delchev-Stip<http://www.eifl.net/regional-public-and-university-library-goce-delcev>
–
20% more farmers applied for government subsidies through library’s mobile
ICT service.

*Employment and livelihoods*

·       Bulgaria - Lyuben Karavelov Regional
Library<http://www.eifl.net/lyuben-karavelov-regional-library-bulgaria>
–
helped 44 long-term unemployed people aged over 40 find work.

·       Croatia - Zagreb City Libraries
<http://www.eifl.net/zagreb-city-libraries-croatia>–
helped 22 homeless people find employment, reduced stigma and sparked new
services for homeless.

*Health*

·       Armenia - Lori Regional Library
<http://www.eifl.net/lori-regional-library-armenia>–
connected people to their doctors; responded to 2,600 requests for health
information.

·       Kyrgyzstan - Kyrgyz Libraries Information
Consortium<http://www.eifl.net/kyrgyz-libraries-information-consortium-kyrgyzstan>
 –
mass community awareness 'No to TB!' campaign reached thousands through 190
public libraries.

·       Lithuania - Kaunas County Public
Library<http://www.eifl.net/kaunas-county-public-library-lithuania> –
over 1,400 senior citizens flocked to library’s healthy lifestyle events
and ICT training.

*Youth Development / Children at risk*

·       Kazakhstan - East Kazakhstan Oblast Pushkin
Library<http://www.eifl.net/east-kazakhstan-oblast-pushkin-library-kazakhstan>
–
helped 55 young people find work, start small businesses or improve their
jobs. The library is chosen to manage a major United Nations grant to
install ICT in 17 village libraries.

·       South Africa - Masiphumelele Public
Library<http://www.eifl.net/masiphumelele-public-library-south-africa>
–
helped over 20 vulnerable young people find jobs and 31 more to enter
further education.

·       Uganda - National Library, with Lira and Masindi public
libraries<http://www.eifl.net/national-library-uganda-lira-and-masindi-public-li>
–
free ICT access, training and mobile phone opportunities alert service
improves skills of 500 youth.



-- 
*Jean Fairbairn*
EIFL-PLIP Communications
Skype: jean.fairbairn1
______________________________________

*EIFL: Knowledge Without Boundaries* <http://www.eifl.net/home>
Follow *EIFL* on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/eIFL.net>, Twitter
<http://twitter.com/eIFLnet>and RSS <http://www.eifl.net/rss-all>.
View *EIFL *photos and videos on Flickr <http://www.flickr.com/photos/eifl/>and
YouTube <http://www.youtube.com/user/eiflnet/featured>.
Sign up for the *EIFL *newsletter <http://www.eifl.net/newsletter>.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.apc.org/mailman/private/pal-dc/attachments/20130221/35f4e421/attachment.html>