A rea: A pprox . 284. 000 square kilomet res (N or way: 324. 000) Populat ion: A pprox . 14. 5 millions . – I nhabit ant s: A pprox . 65% mest izos, 25 % indigenous, 7 % E uropean,

3 % A f r ican or igin. Languages: M ainly S panish, + quechua and ot her indigenous languages Capit al: Q uito (alt it ude 2800 m), 1 , 8 mill. inhabit ants A nalphabet ism: A pprox . 9 % Economía: GDP per cápit a, 2009:

A pprox . 4. 000 $ (N orway: approx . $ 77. 000) Expor ts: Pet roleum, fl ower s, bananas, shr imps, canned seaf ood

1999 - Who was I?1999 - Who was I?

Experienced librarian (research library)Experienced librarian (research library)

Some small experience from public Some small experience from public librarieslibraries

A 50 years old backpackerA 50 years old backpacker

Norwegian = rich, Ecuadorian = poorNorwegian = rich, Ecuadorian = poor

Volunteering --Volunteering --

The library idea The library idea Basic considerations Basic considerations

Enlightening and bringing delight --Enlightening and bringing delight --

Why learn to read if you’ve got nothing to read? Why learn to read if you’ve got nothing to read? One single book may mean a lot to one or several One single book may mean a lot to one or several persons persons A library, however small, may mean the world to the A library, however small, may mean the world to the community sharing itcommunity sharing it

… …………… …………Domestic loans for free?Domestic loans for free?

Preparations Preparations (Oct.-Dec. 1999)(Oct.-Dec. 1999)

Language studiesLanguage studies

Making contactsMaking contacts

Looking forLooking for … … librarieslibraries supporting organisationssupporting organisations

Necessary for success: Necessary for success: GOOD SUPPORTERS GOOD SUPPORTERS

Someone local willing to give practical support and advice Someone local willing to give practical support and advice from the beginning.from the beginning. (Local Rotary club)(Local Rotary club)

Someone prepared to take the economic and practical Someone prepared to take the economic and practical responsibility for conducting the library on a permanent basis responsibility for conducting the library on a permanent basis after your departure after your departure (same club)(same club)

A reliable, stable and interested day-to-day manager A reliable, stable and interested day-to-day manager (A (A woman from the village)woman from the village) One or more local professional librarian(-s) ready to mentor One or more local professional librarian(-s) ready to mentor that person, helping develop library skills that person, helping develop library skills (2, in the course of (2, in the course of 10 years)10 years)

+ + SOME MONEYSOME MONEY

Useful contactsUseful contacts

The Norwegian consulThe Norwegian consulA local Rotary clubA local Rotary clubAn elderly German womanAn elderly German womanThe mother of my temporary “family” in The mother of my temporary “family” in EcuadorEcuador

The chairperson of the city library The chairperson of the city library organisationorganisationFriends and relatives at homeFriends and relatives at home

Collection at the end of my stayCollection at the end of my stay300 books300 books, mostly bought , mostly bought secondhandsecondhand, , organisedorganised according to Dewey system. according to Dewey system.

Traditional Traditional cardscards used for catalog and lending system used for catalog and lending system

CategoriesCategories: :

• All 10 Dewey categories represented, the local interest in agriculture All 10 Dewey categories represented, the local interest in agriculture weighing a little more than others. weighing a little more than others.

• Fiction books for adultsFiction books for adults• PoetryPoetry• TheatreTheatre• Youth booksYouth books• Childrens’ booksChildrens’ books• A multi-volume encyclopaedic dictionaryA multi-volume encyclopaedic dictionary• A multi-volume history work of South AmericaA multi-volume history work of South America• A globe and a local mapA globe and a local map

THE BIG DEALTHE BIG DEAL

KEEPING THE LIBRARY KEEPING THE LIBRARY RUNNINGRUNNING

Nono libraryNono library

8 years later8 years later

Anno 2008Anno 2008

ChallengesChallenges

PROBLEMPROBLEM ## 1:1: The organisation supportingThe organisation supporting

No budget for buying books. Very little money for keeping No budget for buying books. Very little money for keeping the library running.the library running. Low salary, long hoursLow salary, long hoursThe library filled up with gifts from people’s private The library filled up with gifts from people’s private bookshelves. bookshelves.

Interest in electronic equipment Interest in electronic equipment … … dreams of setting up an Internet café in the library, dreams of setting up an Internet café in the library, making it run by means of money paid by local Internet users making it run by means of money paid by local Internet users

... leading to dumping the card catalogue without the ... leading to dumping the card catalogue without the employee knowing how to handle a PC employee knowing how to handle a PC

PROBLEM PROBLEM ## 2: Scarce economy 2: Scarce economy

OUTLINE OF AN “IDEAL” ANNUAL BUDGET OUTLINE OF AN “IDEAL” ANNUAL BUDGET 2002 -2002 - amounting amounting to to $ 6300$ 6300 (NOK 50.000)(NOK 50.000)

Startup expenses Startup expenses 20002000: : $ 900$ 900 (NOK 6500) . Budget (NOK 6500) . Budget 20022002: : $ 1900$ 1900 (NOK 14.000) (NOK 14.000)

Salario mínimo de ley – total de 55 horas semanal - $ 165x12 Salario mínimo de ley – total de 55 horas semanal - $ 165x12 $ 1.980 $ 1.980 (Salario de $ 120 mensual por un trabajo de 40 h. semanal)(Salario de $ 120 mensual por un trabajo de 40 h. semanal)

Seguro social – 2 personas - $ 30 /mes (¿?) x 12Seguro social – 2 personas - $ 30 /mes (¿?) x 12 $ 360 $ 360

Materiales $ 60/mes x 12 Materiales $ 60/mes x 12 $ 720 $ 720

Movilización (2 veces/mes á $ 7,50) x 24 Movilización (2 veces/mes á $ 7,50) x 24 $ 180 $ 180

Teléfono (3 veces/mes, celular, á $ 6) x 36 Teléfono (3 veces/mes, celular, á $ 6) x 36 $ 216 $ 216

Limpieza del área fuera de la bibl. $ 1/mes x 12 Limpieza del área fuera de la bibl. $ 1/mes x 12 $ 12$ 12

Libros Libros $ 1.500$ 1.500

Revistas – 6 á $ 60 Revistas – 6 á $ 60 $ 360 $ 360

Periódico Periódico $ 140 $ 140

Capacitación (Cursos) Capacitación (Cursos) $ 400 $ 400

Supervisión Supervisión $ 400 $ 400

TOTAL – 1 añoTOTAL – 1 año $ 6.268$ 6.268

To keep the library going…To keep the library going… Possible part of solution Possible part of solution

Look for economic support in Norway for Look for economic support in Norway for the library. the library.

Requirement: Ability to present information Requirement: Ability to present information (statistics, reports…) on a regular bases (statistics, reports…) on a regular bases

But alas …PROBLEM But alas …PROBLEM ## 3:3: CommunicatingCommunicating

Internet and PCs in the library unstableInternet and PCs in the library unstable

Little understanding of the need for regular Little understanding of the need for regular information.information.

Not prepared to discuss practical solutions Not prepared to discuss practical solutions aiming at better communication / better aiming at better communication / better economyeconomy

IMPROVING THE COMMUNICATION?IMPROVING THE COMMUNICATION? Possible solution…Possible solution…

Since 2008: An amount of $ 100 per month transferred Since 2008: An amount of $ 100 per month transferred from Norway once a year, to cover:from Norway once a year, to cover:

Extra monthly payment $ 30 for the day-to-day manager of the Extra monthly payment $ 30 for the day-to-day manager of the library, on the condition that information is supplied regularly library, on the condition that information is supplied regularly

Newspaper and a few booksNewspaper and a few books Some minor education (courses)Some minor education (courses)

The money sent is payed via a professional librarianThe money sent is payed via a professional librarian

… … who is also well informed about the library world of who is also well informed about the library world of Ecuador, and therefore an important contact to “open the Ecuador, and therefore an important contact to “open the doors” to that world doors” to that world

SUCCESSESSUCCESSESA basic library with an acceptable library system set A basic library with an acceptable library system set up during 7 weeks’ stay.up during 7 weeks’ stay.

Still going strong after 10 yearsStill going strong after 10 years

Full shelves, many books of all kinds, a newspaper Full shelves, many books of all kinds, a newspaper subscription, and 2-3 PCs and Internet access, - an subscription, and 2-3 PCs and Internet access, - an important part of a general upgrading of the village important part of a general upgrading of the village carried through since 2000. carried through since 2000.

Children and adults borrow books for reading at Children and adults borrow books for reading at homehome

Important for the local schoolImportant for the local schoolUsed for studies and homework, with assistance of Used for studies and homework, with assistance of the library day-to-day manager .the library day-to-day manager .

I’m not the only oneI’m not the only one

Others in Ecuador Others in Ecuador

Other Norwegian library projects in Other Norwegian library projects in developing countries…developing countries…