PUBLIC LIBRARIES CONTRIBUTING TO EDUCATION

People using computers in Public Library 'Victoria Dorantes' No. 382, which serves the Atotonilco community in Tlaxo municipality in south-central Mexico.

Public Library 'Victoria Dorantes' No. 382, which serves the Atotonilco community in Tlaxo municipality in south-central Mexico, offers a pioneering distance education programme for a rural livestock farming community.

The work of the EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme demonstrates how public libraries in developing and transition economy countries are using digital technology in innovative ways to make a vital contribution to education of children and adults.

For example, four mobile regional libraries in Ghana travel to under-resourced schools every week bringing solar powered laptops to give thousands of children hands-on experience of computers and help them to pass exams. Biblioteca Oasis del Saber (Oasis of Knowledge Library) in rural Colombia uses digital technology to teach teenagers and adults how to read and write and to enable them to become active and engaged citizens. In Kenya, Nakuru Public Library’s e-learning programme is helping children conquer their fear of maths. Also in Kenya, 15 public libraries in the Kenya National Library Service Network are facilitating ‘Learning Circles’, which are offline study groups to to help adult learners complete online courses.

What the learners say

"I have conquered one of the greatest enemies in my life. I always believed that maths was one of the most difficult and complicated subjects. However after learning maths through the digital learning programme at the library, my grades have miraculously improved - from 30% to 84%. I have also learnt how to use a computer. My parents can’t hide their joy and this made them buy me a new dress." - Grace Gakenia, Class 6, Lakeview Primary School, and participant in Nakuru Public Library’s maths e-learning programme.

“I succeeded in getting better marks at the end of term. When I told my classmates about the game, everybody got interested. Now we go together with friends to play in the library. We also go to consult with teachers.” - Deividas, 7th grade student in Utena, Lithuania, who was encouraged to learn school subjects through Utena ‘A&M Miskiniai’ Utena Public Library’s educational computer game.

“Before the lesson in the library, I never would have thought that bees are so important for our world. I was afraid of them, but now I know that we all have to help them!” - Jakub, aged 13, who learnt about the importance of protecting the environment through Cyberiada public library's interactive environmental educational programme in Elblag, Poland.

What the teachers say

“The library’s project has inspired me to encourage students to try out new ideas and experiment through practical applications using technology.” – Zoran Milijkovic, teacher, Serbia, speaking about Public Library ‘Dušan Matic’ Cuprija’s computer coding classes which are inspiring young people to take up careers in technology.

“Every week, parents move their children from other schools which are not benefitting from the project to my school. They want their children to have this opportunity to learn about technology and pass their exams.” - Francis Pepra Boansi, headmaster of Kwaaso Presbyterian Junior High School in Ghana, speaking about Volta Regional Library’s hands-on computer classes.