public libraries, (why) are they key agents of promoting information society in poland (jacek...

Public Libraries – (why) are they key agents of promoting information society in Poland?

Jacek KrólikowskiInformation Society Development Foundation

The Polish-American Freedom Foundation has partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help Poland’s public libraries provide access to computers, the Internet, and training. The Library Development Program in Poland is implemented by the Information Society Development Foundation.

Basic information about Library Development Program

OUR VISION

Within 5 years public libraries participating in the Program will have gained power to support the development of individual citizens and

entire communities.

OUR INTERVENTION MODEL

TRAININGSYSTEM

TECHNOLOGICALSUPPORT

ADVOCACYAND COMMUNICATION

CAPACITY BUILDINGOF THE LIBRARY SYSTEM

BASIC INFORMATION

» Implementation period: 2009-2013

» Budget: USD 32 mln

» Target group: 3350 libraries from rural areas (app. 50% of all libraries on rural areas) from 1120 municipalities (out of 2300)

» Training: app. 3000 librarians will participate in training courses (on average 20 training days per librarian)

» Technological support: app. 2000 computers and other equipments will be delivered to libraries + free help desk

BASIC INFORMATION

» Play Library Development Program: http://www.biblioteki.org/pl/wiadomosci/czytaj/757

Internet non-users in Poland – who they are?

KEY FEATURES OF INTERNET NON-USERS

» 73% of them is 45+

» More than 60% has elementary or vocational education

» They present low level of involvement in social activities / low social capital

» Less frequent than users participation in cultural activities

» Compare to users higher rate of unemployed

» More than 60% of them live in villages and small cities

» The most important reason for not having access to Internet: lack of need and lack of skills

Internet users in Poland: cities (56%), rural areas (38%)

RURAL AREAS IN POLAND:

39% of population live on rural areas (15,5 mln)Active on the labor market is 62% of men an only 44% of women living on rural areasKey sources of families income are pensions and employment in public institutionsOnly 7% of population living on rural areas has higher education, compare to 23% in the cities78% of public libraries is on rural areas, 40% of them have no access to Internet

Priority roles for libraries and their social impact within the Digital Agenda for Europe

MOST RELEVANT ACTION AREAS FROM DAfE

Lack of digital literacy and skills

„Europe is suffering from a growing professional ICT skills shortage and a digital literacy deficit. These failings are excluding many citizens from the digital society and economy and are holding back the large multiplier effect of ICT take-up to productivity growth. This requires a coordinated reaction, with Member States and other stakeholders at its centre.”

Missed opportunities in addressing societal challenges

„By harnessing the full potential of ICT, Europe could much better address some of its most acute societal challenges: climate change and other pressures on our environment, an ageing population and rising health costs, developing more efficient public services and integrating people with disabilities, digitizing Europe's cultural heritage and making it available to this and future generations (…).”

KEY ROLES OF THE LIBRARY AS AGENT OF PROMOTING INFORMATION SOCIETY: BETWEEN PHYSICAL PLACE AND VIRTUAL SPACE

LIBRARY

LIBRARY: (THIRD) PLACE WE TRUST – CULTURAL FORMATION

» ICT is a tool - cultural background is required to use this tool in right way

» Library have to be place for social integration, providing access to culture and knowledge (including online access)

» To play this role library has to work in partnership with other local institutions (schools, cultural centers, museums, NGOs etc.)

» More (e)book reading = better questions we ask via Google

Look at: It’s a book http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4BK_2VULCU

Research by Ofer Malamud (university of Chicago), Cristian Pop-Eleches (Columbia University) on results of „cheap laptop” for students program In Romania (decrease of school achievements among students from families with low cultural capital using computers) Research by Jacob L. Victor and Helen F. Ladd (Duke University) on students from South Carolina: ICT without reading books is not beneficial.


Statistical citizen of Poland, 30-39 years old - reads 5 books a year.

According to Polish publishers in next 5 years 50% of their income will come from e-books.

“The question is therefore not whether e-books will exist in the future but what form they will take and whether they will be widely adopted. Is there a tipping point for eBooks and if so what are the implications for public libraries?”


» 10 days workshop for app. 3000 librarians on partnerships, planning of cultural activities, improving access to knowledge from different resources, making library a space for social integration etc.

» E-learning version of above mentioned workshop

» Educational computer game “Create your own Europe” (Polish presidency in EU in 2011).

» With Association of Polish Architects: manuals and on the spot consulting on participatory library space design.

Library Development Program activities:

LIBRARY: BASIC ICT EDUCATION – DIGITAL KICK OFF

» Place we trust is a good place for education

» Library as local center for basic ICT education – people need “digital kick off” to start

» Traditional education and e-learning

» Cooperation with other local “digital partners”

“Schools are important and we need to ‘outreach’ to them, but it is surprising how little effort is made to link up with schools as this can provide an experience for students which can make them lifelong customers of libraries. At the same time, schools seem reluctant to work with us, so it is a two-way problem.”“Librarians need to be facilitators and conduits – and to learn not to try and do everything themselves.”

LIBRARY: BASIC ICT EDUCATION – DIGITAL KICK OFF

» ICT training for app. 2000 librarians

» As a part of broad coalition of NGOs and business: advocacy on national level for National Digital Literacy Program


LIBRARY: FREE ACCESS TO ICT – ALWAYS UPGRADED

» Probably for the next 5-10 years really fast, free and safe Internet available in a library will be attractive

» Focus on access to more sophisticated and always upgraded software

» Library as local “technology center” – carefully planned ICT investments supported by local authorities

Broadband penetration rate in Poland is 13,5% (2010)

LIBRARY: FREE ACCESS TO ICT – ALWAYS UPGRADED

» Computers and other equipment delivery to app. 2000 libraries

» According to agreement with Polish Telecom (TP SA) free Internet available for all public libraries


“Our thinking needs to change so that our physical and local presence does not continue to be a barrier to our global and virtual role. The future is all about open source library systems and online access and delivery.”

LIBRARY: DIGITAL GUIDE – FRIENDLY INTERFACE TO KNOWLEDGE

» The most difficult role for library – is it possible to be a digital guide when ICT is overwhelming and changing rapidly?

» Can library find local partners for this type of services?

» Library as local “technology center”:

Introduction to e-services and more specific applications and software

Actual information on recently available ICT solutions

» Guidance in access to knowledge:

How to ask questions?

Where to look for answers?

How to validate knowledge?

How to present findings?

“If information is free, then librarians need to demonstrate their value-add. “

LIBRARY: DIGITAL GUIDE – FRIENDLY INTERFACE TO KNOWLEDGE

» Free help desk for libraries one year after equipment delivery covering broad range of technological issues

» Actual information of ICT tools available on www.biblioteki.org

» Plan for extended support in the area of ICT based on Techsoup experience from www.techsoupforlibraries.org


LIBRARY: PLACE FOR DIGITAL USERS – “WE WANT MORE”

» Research shows that people using ICT are inclined to initiate social relations / build social capital and seek for more knowledge / culture

» People with proper cultural background / capital and ICT skills become “digital users” – they need more (e)books and more technologies

» Library have to be ready to respond to these needs – it requires constant reflection on library vision and improvement of strategies for action

» Librarians have to try envisage services “digital users” will need in the future

LIBRARY: PLACE FOR DIGITAL USERS – “WE WANT MORE”

» Specialized 3 days workshops on 8 types of library services based on ICT for app. 2000 librarians

» Recommendations for regional libraries’ “strategies for the future”

» Stimulation of the librarian community reflection on future services


Key technologies that will support the public library mission

KEY TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL SUPPORT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY MISSION

» Really fast, free and safe Internet – I hope to remove this after 2020

» Tools for e-learning and peer-education for librarians – e.g. www.techsoupforlibraries.org type

» Web application and other tools for community basic ICT education

» Online catalogues and other services

» Mobile access to library services

Future skills required for those working in public libraries

FUTURE SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THOSE WORKING IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES

» Social skills – to make library a “meeting place”

» Advanced ICT skills / Info-broker skills

» Basic teaching skills

» Visionary skills – looking for symptoms of the future now

» Strategic planning (including ICT planning) and strategic management / project management skills

» Skills related to set-up of the partnerships

» Fundraising and advocacy skills

“We still live in a hierarchical command and control culture when the world is demanding collaboration and networked interaction.”

FUTURE SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THOSE WORKING IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES - LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, TRAINING SYSTEM

ICT courses Specialist courses

- 8 new library functions

Implementation of the plan

Consultancy on developing and implementing library work

plans

Grant programs for

libraries

Good practices Program

NGO support for libraries

Local coalitions

Internet portal + e-learning

Long-term library work plan

Summing-up provincial

conference

Opportunities for and threats to the future of Europe’s public libraries

OPPORTUNITIES

» Trust and respect for libraries

» Public access, free of charge services

» On rural areas quite often library is the only public meeting place – important for building of the social capital

» Specialization in “knowledge management”- important in knowledge society

» Significant contribution to development of the cultural capital of the local communities

» People will probably need guidance in ICT, chaotic world

THREATS

» Is it possible to be “ICT advanced” if technology is changing rapidly and current competencies of librarians are very basic?

» Is it possible to develop proper vision and prepare effective response to the future needs?

» Need for constant upgrade of technologies = lack of local funding for ICT in libraries

» Are librarians really ready to admit, that books lending cannot survive as key function of the future library?

Priorities for action over the next five years

PRIORITIES FOR ACTION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

» Initiate European debate on future of the libraries - Achieve common vision and EU standard of library and librarians qualifications taking in to consideration specifics of the libraries on rural areas

» EU capacity building program for libraries to achieve above mention vision / standards (professional training, new models of management – libraries as learning organization, strengthening of the ICT competencies)

» Reform of university studies for librarians – more practical competencies following the vision / standards

» Strengthening of professional development system for librarians in member states

PRIORITIES FOR ACTION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

» Development of the European level tools supporting libraries in absorption of the current ICT solutions and promoting tools for basic ICT education of library users (2.0 tools)

» Initiate EU level social campaign to promote new roles / functions / services libraries provide – stimulate new needs of the digital users

» Initiate European Digital Education Program with libraries as one of the key implementing institutions

» Create European library services – content (Europeana), portal with learning resources, library management models, EU resources for public libraries???

Thank you!