PUBLIC LIBRARIES

as ‘third places’

addressing

the DIGITAL DIVIDE

Agnieszka Koszowska

Information Society Development Foundation

TRAININGSYSTEM

TECHNOLOGICALSUPPORT

ADVOCACYAND

COMMUNICATION

CAPACITY BUILDING

OF THE LIBRARY SYSTEM

» Libraries will become multifunctional centres of local activities» Libraries will better serve the needs of local inhabitants» Libraries will act as ‘agents of change’

LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - OBJECTIVES

LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - RESEARCH

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

» Have positive image in the communities» Enjoy public trust» Are associated with words: ‘reliable’, ‘safe’, ‘trust’ etc.» Are always close (at least one in each commune) » Are free of charge

LOCAL COMMUNITIES

» Need a public meeting place without alcohol being served » Need social contacts and integration.

DIGITAL EXLUSION IN POLAND

10 mln Poles aged 50+ do not use ICT

Main reasons of digital exclusion include:

» Lack of need» Lack of interest» Low awareness of the ICT applications» Low motivation» Lack of competence and skills

Between alienation and adjustment ‘M@turity in the Net’ coalition report

http://dojrzaloscwsieci.pl/tl_files/pliki/Raport.pdf

Public access to the InternetIS NOT ENOUGH

Public Internet Access Points face problems of:

» Sustainability» Lack of nationwide coordination» Insufficient staff» Low cooperation» Low availability (and no sharing) of training resources

DIGITAL EXLUSION IN POLAND

A LIBRARY AS A THIRD PLACE

A public meeting place

» Neutral» Safe» Offering social integration» Heart of the community

A place…

» To meet» To talk» To spend time together» To relax, to have fun» To learn new skills

A LIBRARY – A PLACE ADDRESSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

HE DIGITALLY EXCLUDED»

o not need ICT»

re not aware of the ICT applications

HAT THEY NEED IS»

local meeting place –»

eutral, safe, reliable, without alcohol

GET ONLINE WEEK 2011 IN POLAND

» Informal meetings for senior citizens in public libraries» Training and integration (with coffee and cookies)» Presentation of the ICT applications in daily lives» Suggested scenarios (three popular themes)» Ready to use training materials, handouts, templates

» Nationwide competition for libraries

» Partnership with Microsoft and UPC » Wide media coverage» Advocacy on the local level

GET ONLINE WEEK 2011 IN POLAND

HREE SCENARIOS

Yours for the asking’ (music on the Net)

Health Clinic’ (medical information)

Talk – priceless’ (using instant messaging)

CONCLUSIONS

» Library – a ‘third’ physical place to address digital divide» Focus on sustainability» Good practice: thematic scenarios for specific subjects» Ready-to-use handouts, templates and training materials (with an Open Access approach)» Nationwide coordination» Advocacy and communication

CHALLENGES

ICT & media education as a USP for libraries?

» New ICT tools, new media, new ways of accessing information» Rapid ICT development makes it hard to keep up» Multi-leveled approach is needed in digital literacy education» From basic and informal to specialist and expert levels» Peer learning, effective ways of knowledge exchange

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

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.