EIFL wins WSIS 2013 Project Prize for excellence

EIFL (Electronic Information for Libraries) was awarded a WSIS Project Prize for excellence in implementation of World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) outcomes to achieve an inclusive and development-oriented information society. Jean Fairbairn takes this opportunity for sending us a few words about the awards ceremony and also about the WSIS project:

 The prestigious award was presented by Dr Hamadoun Touré, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) during the opening ceremony of the WSIS Forum 2013 on May 13. The world’s largest annual gathering of the ICT for development community, the WSIS Forum 2013 was attended by more than 1,500 delegates from more than 140 countries, including over 120 government ministers, ambassadors, CEOs, and civil society leaders.

 Accepting the award, EIFL Director Ms Rima Kupryte said: ‘I am very happy and honoured to receive the WSIS Project Prize as it is an important recognition of public libraries as partners in development.  Internet and communication technologies are changing our lives, but there are many people, especially in developing and transition countries, who do not own a computer or smart phone. Our experience shows that innovative public libraries offering free access to ICT and training in e-literacy skills can have a powerful positive impact in their communities.’

 EIFL was one of 18 winners selected from 280 projects nominated from 64 countries. EIFL won the award in Category 4, “CapacityBuilding” for the work of its Public Library Innovation Programme (PLIP), which supports public libraries in developing and transition countries to use ICT to implement innovative services that improve lives. Over 9,000 people in 23 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe have benefited from ICT training in local libraries as a result of EIFL-PLIP support.  New e-literacy skills are benefiting subsistence farmers, vulnerable youth, those suffering from ill health, health workers’ struggling to update their knowledge, unemployed women, the homeless and many other disadvantaged groups.

 Read more about EIFL-PLIP’s innovative public library services and follow EIFL on twitter – @EIFLnet.

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 WSIS – the World Summit on the Information Society – is a UN process that was initiated in two unique phases in order to create an evolving multi-stakeholder platform aimed at promoting Information Society at the national, regional and international levels. The goal of WSIS is to achieve a common vision, desire and commitment to build a people-centric, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society where everyone can create, access, utilize and share information. The Final Review of this process will take place in 2015. The WSIS Project Prizes were developed in response to requests from participants at the WSIS Forum 2011 for a mechanism to evaluate and recognize individuals; governments; civil society; local, regional and international agencies; research institutions, and private sector companies for outstanding success in implementing development strategies that leverage the power of ICTs.

Slovene Public Libraries

Today Gorazd Vodeb’s presentation in last NAPLE Assembly is available to read clicking here. It shows a general survey on the populations use of and attitude to libraries in Slovenia.

Svět knihy (Book World)

Svět knihy (Book World) is the book fair that takes place annually in Prague. The photo shows a mobile library in ownership of the Municipal Library in Prague. This mobile library traditionally arrives to meet its (potential) patrons visiting the book fair. The offer was targeted on comics, in accordance with the big topic of this year book fair. Patrons could lend comics and / or return books. A poster on doors announced a birth of the Superlibrian presented by the amateur theatre group Vý (Výtržníci, the Troublemakers) during the book fair.

Eva Bartunkova
Department Head of Information Centre for Librarianship
Czech Republic

New award for innovative library health services

EIFL (Electronic Information for Libraries) is inviting applications for a new award that recognizes the valuable impact of public library health services.

The invitation, by the EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme (EIFL-PLIP), is open to all public and community libraries in developing and transition countries. The prize is US$1,500 and the opportunity to showcase your service at an international conference or gathering. You can apply in English, Russian, French or Spanish.

With less than a month to go, the deadline – July 31 – is tight.

Libraries everywhere are providing valuable health services, using cutting-edge information and communication technology (ICT). For example, in northern Ghana, a public library uses mobile phones to send vital maternal health care information to pregnant women; in Kyrgyzstan, a public library is leading a campaign to combat TB; in Armenia, patients are asking their doctors questions through their library’s interactive website; in Kenya, health workers and patients have free access to the internet through their library’s e-health corners. EIFL-PLIP wants to make stories like these known, so that innovative libraries whose services improve lives win recognition and support.

If your library is using ICT to improve community health, then this award is for you. To enter, all you have to do is tell EIFL-PLIP your story and show the impact of your service.

For further information and details of how to apply, visit www.eifl.net

Source: ElFL-PLIP
Author: Jean Fairbarn, EIFL-PLIP Communications

Digital Scotland

Here comes one more presentation from the last NAPLE Assembly. In this case, Digital Scotland – building e‐services in public libraries, by Elaine Fulton , from Scotland.

Portuguese Public Libraries and Digitisation

Today Margarida Oleiro’s presentation in last NAPLE Assembly is available to read clicking here. It shows the situation of digitisation in Portuguese Public Libraries.

Non-use of public libraries in Germany

Today Barbara Schleihagen’s presentation in NAPLE Assembly is available to read clicking here. It explains the causes and reasons for the non-use of public libraries in Germany.

Awards for libraries that improve economic wellbeing

EIFL (Electronic Information for Libraries) has launched its first Public Library Innovation Programme (EIFL-PLIP) Innovation Award call – for libraries offering services that use information and communication technology (ICT) to improve economic wellbeing of the community.

The award is the first of four EIFL-PLIP Innovation Awards for public and community libraries in developing and transition countries.

EIFL-PLIP is accepting written applications in four languages – English, Russian, French and Spanish. To encourage greater participation, libraries also have the opportunity to tell their stories in their own language through video. However, the video must have subtitles in English.

The deadline is May 31, 2012.

Winners will receive a prize of US$1,500, and the opportunity to showcase their winning service at an international conference or event.  In addition, EIFL-PLIP will publicize their services widely.

For full details of this award, and future awards, click here: English, French, Spanish, Russian.

Source: ElFL-PLIP
Author: Jean Fairbarn, EIFL-PLIP Communications

Education Workshops on Using New Library resources for Classrooms

For this post we are collecting the information from the Irish web page: Library Services for Young People.

A series of workshops on using online library resources has been developed for teachers of both primary and post primary pupils and is being delivered in the regional education centres throughout the spring of 2012. The workshop covers:

•     Using www.askaboutireland.ie resources in your classroom
•     Services and support from your local library
•     Useful reference resources for free online access

Librarians from each local library service where a workshop is running are invited to participate in order to provide an additional opportunity for teachers to connect with their local service, learn about the services provided to schools and to develop links and further contacts to provide additional services for schools.

Source of this information: http://www.library.ie/youngpeople/.

IFLA’s 2012 Metropolitan Libraries Conference

For this post we are collecting the information from metlib2012. IFLA’s 2012 Metropolitan Libraries Conference will take place between Sunday 20th and Friday 25th May 2012 in Barcelona.

Under the heading “The Never-ending story: adapting public libraries in an ever-changing society”, two topics will be the starting point for debate, first, related to professionals profiles and, second, how to manage in difficult times.

It’s already possible to register for the conference and to consult the provisional agenda on his page.