Image courtesy WikiMedia Commons

As the above image shows, the proliferation of smaller, cheaper devices that allow people to access the internet is impacting the rate of technological equality worldwide. More people than ever before have access to some sort of digital media. Local libraries in developing nations are on the leading edge of this movement.

Digital libraries have the potential to offer an entirely new level of information access to people in developing countries who have in the past been unable to tap into these resources. The article “Building and using digital libraries in the developing world” (2012), by Barreto da Rosa and Lamas, discusses some challenges of establishing these libraries as well as the potential for mobile devices as affordable access tools. The authors suggest that lack of infrastructure, untrained staff, low literacy rates, unavailability of internet access, and funding issues all make creating digital libraries challenging (193). They discuss a project in Cape Verde in which digital library access for academic research was developed for the university library. Because of limited financial resources, the developers tried to find free, suitable resources but had limited success. The databases that were made available went over well though, with immediate usage by students and staff. While many students and staff also had mobile devices, not many accessed the digital library this way, citing cost of mobile internet, unreliable internet access, and slow loading speed (200). This gap in infrastructure to support internet access seems to be a major barrier to establishing more digital libraries in developing countries. The discussion becomes one of resource allocation by governments and aid agencies…what takes priority when basic human needs are not fully met?

There are many organizations dedicated to enhancing access to digital technology and information in developing countries through libraries. Beyond Access is a nonprofit group which is made up of various partners, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, committed to expanding the role of public libraries in developing nations. It is part of the large American international nonprofit IREX, which works for social, educational, and media development projects around the world. Beyond Access works to connect people to information by supporting development projects based around community libraries.

Here in Canada, we are spoiled for access to both traditional and digital resources. Mobile devices are popping up more and more in schools and potentially have many educational uses. While we need to be aware of economic barriers and appropriate usage discussions, there are many activities that can be enhanced or made more attractive to students with the use of mobile technologies. John Hardison offers suggestions in his 2013 article on Getting Smart website, all sorts of collaborative, creative activities. The reality is that our society is integrating more with mobile technology with every passing day. I think it would be a disservice to our students not to teach them how to use the technology productively and safely within our classrooms.

Resources

Barreto da Rosa, I. & D.R. Lamas. “Building and using digital libraries in the developing world.” Education Journal. 2(5). 2013. 192-202. DOI: 10.11648/j.edu.20130205.12