This week I am taking a break from digital video production to investigate how libraries are impacting communities around the world. The courses in the UBC Diploma in Teacher-Librarianship give vast information about library programming, managing resources, information literacy, and so on, but it is important to remember that this is only a small view of what libraries can offer their patrons. It was eye-opening to delve into innovative ways that libraries serve their communities in areas of the world with limited resources.
Library Reform in Bangladesh
According to a 2016 report, about 148 million people in Bangladesh do not have access to the internet. Additionally, although there are over 5000 public libraries in the country, over 80% of children in primary grades have never used one because they are geared towards adults. Beyond Access, a project established by IREX to expand the impact of libraries across the globe, formed a network of 24 libraries across Bangladesh with literary resources for young children.
Photo from Beyond Access.
The focus has also been on bringing ICT into the library for the young patrons to use. Children are provided with access to tablets that have educational software encouraging literacy and creativity. The program has shifted the perspective that libraries are only for educated citizens to one where libraries are part of the education process. Although there is support for this shift, there is reportedly still some resistance to libraries being about more than just books. Truth be told, I have seen evidence of the same resistance here in North America. It is informative to see that mobile technology in libraries is making an impact in other parts of the world.
The Wheels on the Bus Bring Books, Books, Books!
Photo from Sorin, Furcoi, Al Jazeera Press, 2019.
In Kabul, Afghanistan, the education system has been impacted by decades of war. Due to Taliban rule, barriers to education are particularly significant for girls and in rural areas. In 2018, The Charmaghaz Project started a library bus system which delivers books to children in the city. According to the founder, Freshta Karim, “The main goal of the mobile library is to promote critical thinking, which we believe it is not promoted in our education system or our society.” The project relies on donations and currently has 5 buses, each with a driver, librarian, and librarian assistant. It also offers hands-on workshops designed to promote creative thinking. The project was working towards collaborating with the Ministry of Education to provide service to schools before it had to pause operations due to another Taliban takeover in August 2021. In December, the buses were granted permission to resume service once again. The mobile libraries get around 400 young visitors each day.
Last year, a picture book inspired by mobile libraries in refugee camps in Kabul was written by Bahram Rahman with illustrations by Gabrielle Gimard. The author of The Library Bus grew up in Afghanistan during the Taliban’s first regime. You can listen to the author read his book in the video below. The reading is followed by an interview where the author talks about his inspiration for the story:
Definition of the Word Mobile
/ˈmōbəl,ˈmōˌbīl/
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able to move or be moved freely or easily.
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relating to mobile phones, handheld computers, and similar technology.
Although these examples of world library initiatives are two different spins on the word “mobile”, they both highlight ways that libraries are thinking outside the box to serve their communities. Closer to home, libraries are also becoming more mobile. Patrons want to access information from anywhere at anytime. Why should school libraries limit that access because of outdated device policies? Online databases and wifi access for personal devices allow school libraries to better serve their learners. Information is information, whether it is gleaned from a book or the screen of a mobile device.
Closing Thoughts: The Danger of a Single Story
As I conducted my research about the development of libraries around the world, I discovered much of the information is provided through a Western lens. I found many examples of other countries establishing programs in a developing country, rather than projects that are being developed intrinsically by the country itself. The effectiveness of these initiatives is questionable because it means outside influences are imposing views of what a library should be. The most troubling article I found was one which praised a Rotary program which collected discarded books from American school libraries and brought them to developing countries. These books would be outdated, in poor condition, and representing Western perspectives. Could they be doing more harm than good? Can we say the same for well-meaning library development initiatives being imposed on developing countries from across the globe? I look forward to hearing your thoughts in the comments.
Works Cited
1 World Connected. (2020, September 1). Beyond Access Bangladesh. https://1worldconnected.org/project/asia_digitalskills_libraries_youth_beyondaccessbangladesh/
Asia Society. (2021, November 15). A reading of ‘The Library Bus’ [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkDTKCjXUEc
Furcoi, S. (2019, March 7). ‘This is how we’ll change the country’ – inside Kabul’s book bus. Al Jazeera Media Network. https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2019/3/7/this-is-how-well-change-the-country-inside-kabuls-book-bus
Charmaghz. (2021). Mobile Libraries. https://charmaghz.org/mobilelibraries/
