Knowledge without

boundaries

Public library advocacy

IAWG meeting, Amsterdam, 2012

Activities related to PL Advocacy - PLIP

• Public Library Innovation Programme-spark innovative services to meet community needs

• Two levels:

– Local & National

– International

Activities related to PL advocacy – local & national

• Grants programme

• Grantee meetings and training

• Remote support

Activities related to PL advocacy - national

Strategic research to understand perceptions

of public libraries in Africa (6 countries)

Perception study

Activities related to PL advocacy - national

Follow up to research in 3 countries (Ghana, Kenya, Uganda):

1. public national presentations;

2. national and international publicity;

3. Africa awareness raising groups;

4. small grants to support innovation and AARG work

Public presentation in Kenya

Activities related to PL advocacy - international

• Attending and making presentations at international non-librarians conferences

• Communicating public library contribution to agriculture, health, emplyment, education to sector blogs and forums such as FAO, HIFA2015, etc

• Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Dynamic Coalition

• Beyond AccessInternet governance forum

RESULTS TO BE PROUD OF (PLIP)

• Results of grants programme first round grantees (12 projects, ended May 2011)

RESULTS TO BE PROUD OF (PLIP)

• Lithuania and Zambia projects are in intensive discussions with Ministries for funding to scale up nationaly

Prime Minister of Lithuania visited the library

RESULTS TO BE PROUD OF (PLIP)

• Serbia and Macedonia have local authories eyes and ears

-extra funding

-extra staff

- New libraries are being build

Petition

RESULTS TO BE PROUD OF (PLIP)

• Mongolia legislation change for visualy impaired

• Social Welfare Law adopted in 2009, had a paragraph that says that White cane, Braille watch and a Tape recorder should be provided to the blind person once in 3 years.

• From July 1 the law says: every visually impaired will get DAISY Talking Book Player

.

RESULTS TO BE PROUD OF (AARG)

• Involvement of non librarians

Eager to speak up for libraries

Goals in 1 year

• Implementation of AARG activities;

• Results and impact of PLIP 2/PLIP Africa projects;

• Ongoing communication, raising awareness of public libraries profile.