Monthly Archives: July 2013

Public Libraries and Health

Building on our last post EIFL’s Public Library Innovation Programme is delighted to share results of two library health services in Africa.  They are:
• Northern Regional Library (Ghana), which builds health workers’ and community ICT capacity, and sent over 3,000 phone text messages (SMS) to 94 expectant mothers with health information and reminders about clinic and hospital visits.
• Busolwe Public Library (Uganda), which provides free ICT training for health workers and the community and translates information about how to prevent and recognize common illnesses into the local language, Lunyole.
The stories are summarized in 2-page case studies, with information for other libraries wanting to start similar services. Both stories emphasize the importance of producinglocally relevant information in local languages – a key point for libraries (or anyone else) using technology to deliver services in developing countries.

5th EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme

 

Binita Saru is a former library ICT trainee in Nepal

Binita Saru is a former library ICT trainee in Nepal

Congratulations to two winners of the 5th EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme (EIFL-PLIP) Award for empowering women and girls through ICT.

Each winner receives a prize of US$1,500, a certificate and a trophy. The EIFL-PLIP Innovation Awards recognize innovative library services that use ICT to improve lives and livelihoods. The awards are open to all public and community libraries in developing and transition countries. Click the link to read more about the EIFL-PLIP Innovation Awards.http://www.eifl.net/news/eifl-plip-awards-libraries-empowering-women

 

 

Help required by MSc Student

Hartwig Pautz is studying for an MSc in Information and Library Studies at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland.   Hartwig has asked for support from colleagues in the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany in writing his dissertation which addresses income generation methods used by public libraries and the potential impact of income generation methods on public library ethos.

Among the outcomes of  his research will be a typology of income generation methods used by public libraries and a critical analysis of the impact of these methods on public library ethos as seen by librarians.  Hartwig hopes that these outcomes will help librarians addressing financial difficulties and building stronger institutions while defending principles and ethos. All results of the study will be made public on Strathclyde University’s open access repository.

For the purpose of this dissertation Hartwig is seeking help. Below is a link to a short electronic questionnaire which seeks to gather information about what librarians think about a set of income generation methods and their impact on the principles of librarianship. The questionnaire consists of 10 questions and should not take more than 10 minutes to complete. The survey is anonymous.   https://strathsci.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_9BtLwndmU9nPQ6p

Hartwig would like to gather as much information from as many public library staff (library assistants, librarians, managers, public library fundraisers) in whatever function or position as possible working in the US, the UK or Germany.

Any questions should be directed to Hartwig at : prb12163@uni.strath.ac.uk