Libraries as ICT and Information Access Points in Africa

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Libraries as ICT and Information Access Points in
Africa

• Success Cases and Best Practices
• Jacinta Were
• Systems Librarian
• University of Nairobi, Kenya/

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Outline

• Libraries as Information Access Points
• ICT in Libraries
• Overview of ICT Development in Africa
• Status of ICT in Libraries in Africa
• Kenya Library and Information Services Consortium
• Issues of Concern
• Key to Success (Recommendations)

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Libraries as Information Access Points in Africa

• The unique feature of libraries and information
  services is that they respond to the particular
  questions and needs of individuals, complementing
  the general transmission of knowledge by the mass
  media.
• (Alex Byrne, President of IFLA, WSIS, Tunis, 18
  Nov, 2005)

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Libraries as access points cont

• With adequate support, libraries in Africa can be
  used as Information Access Points in the
  achievement of the UNs millennium goals.
• Libraries have the professional potential to
• Develop quality content for indigenous research
• Provide access to quality information for
  research
• Provide access to information for informed
  decisions
• Provide information for basic needs in all
  communities
• Enhance information literacy programmes
• Support national development projects

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ICTs in Libraries (Opportunities)

• Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
  play an important role in enhancing efficiency in
  national development process and improving
  governance
• Libraries build capacity and provide support
  and training for effective use of digital and
  other information resources - Alex Byrne
  (Tunis Nov. 2005)
• This potential can be exploited by integrating
  ICTs in the management of libraries and
  information centres

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Opportunities

• 1. Libraries have an enormous amount of well
  organized quality information for research.
• Application of ICTS will enhance access to this
  information and maximizes on benefits.
  Digitization should be given a priority
• 2. Librarians have the professional and technical
  know-how to identify, evaluate, organize and
  classify information for teaching and research.
• Collaboration between IT professionals and
  librarians will give better results on web
  content development

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Opportunities cont.

• 3. Librarians have the technical know-how on
  educating information users and guiding them to
  the resources that will best meet their needs
• Application of ICTs in library management will
  provide ideal information access points for
  realizing the millennium goals

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Overview of ICT Development in Africa

• Does the continent provide an enabling
  environment to facilitate effective use of ICTs?
• The embracement of Information Society Concept in
  Africa has greatly promoted integration of ICTs
  in national development plans resulting in
  commendable developments

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Internet Connectivity

• Internet connectivity has improved
• 1996 only 5 countries connected
• By 2001 all countries connected

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Countries with more than 10,000 Internet
subscribers (Oct. 2002) - UN ICT Task Force
Report
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Internet Users

• Internet users have increased
• 2001 - Internet users went up to 6.2 million
• 2005 Users doubled to 12.9 million

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Growth Rate has been Commendable

• Growth Rate
• 2000-2005 Growth rate recorded was 186.8
  (fasted in the world) compared to
• a World growth of 126.4
• Distribution
• 2005 - 50 of Internet users in Africa were
  shared by 2 countries SA (27.2) and Egypt
  (20.9)
• Africas Internet connectivity made only 1.4 of
  the worlds 12.7
• Africas users made only 1.6 of worlds users

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Status of ICT in Libraries in Africa

• In general terms Libraries in Africa have yet to
  take advantage of the explosion of ICT
  developments on the continent. How do we close
  this digital gap?
• Even in cases where the organization has high
  level of ICT development, the library unit
  remains inadequately equipped
• African States must embrace the concept of
  Integrating ICTs in the management of information
  to realize the millennium goals

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Sub-Saharan Anglophone (Results of a survey by
Diana Rosenberg of INASP)

•  20 countries participated in the survey (Mainly
  universities)
• 15 - reported fully automated
• 21 - reported no automation activities
• 35 - reported connected to Internet
• Ratio 1 computer per 500 students
• ONLY 2 universities (Makerere and Namibia)
  reported major projects on digitizing
  institutional repositories

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MAIN OBSTACLE

• The main challenge cited by all institutions was
  FUNDING!!!
• The initial cost of automation is high
• ICT Infrastructure (hardware, software,
  connectivity, bandwidth, etc.)
• Subscription to e-resources is out of reach
• Sustainability is a major problem

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Kenya Library and Information Services Consortium
(KLISC)

• Kenya has partially overcome this challenge by
  developing a national Consortium
• Very Successful Initiative!!!

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Status of KLISC

• Launched in 2004 with a common goal of sustaining
  the Programme for Enhancement of Research
  Information (PERI)
• Membership consists of
• Universities (public and private)
• Research Institutes
• Tertiary Colleges
• Public Libraries and Archives
• 35 members (by February 2006)

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Objectives of KLISC

• MAIN OBJECTIVES (among others)
• Collective procurement of electronic information
• Resource sharing
• Capacity Building
• Collective advocacy
• Sharing of professional experience

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Achievements

• Collective subscription to e-journals (2004,
  2005, 2006 through PERI) accessing quality and
  timely information
• Journal budgets per institution has dropped by
  over 90
• Successful ICT training for librarians and
  researchers
• Enhance ICT infrastructure !!!!!
• Researchers and librarians in partnership
• SUSTAINABLE ICT STRATEGIES

Enhancement of ICT Infrastructure!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Issues of Concern in Africa

• Digital Gap issues
• Internet Connectivity
• Bandwidth Issues
• Inadequate ICT facilities (computers)
• Technical know-how
• National and organizational Priorities

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Key to Success

• Development of ICT Policies
• Development of human resource capacity
• Support Consortia efforts
• Explore open source options
• Explore options for developing affordable
  technologies
• Development of local indigenous content

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Key to Success cont

• Collaboration with Telecentres
• Creating partnership at national and
  international levels
• Political goodwill
• Organizational commitment on ICT as a priority
• The three top priorities of my government are
  Education, Education and Education
• Tony Blair
• Policy Announcement 2000

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CONCLUSION

• IFLA urges national, regional and local
  governments as well as international
  organizations to
• invest in library and information services as
  vital elements of Information Society strategies,
  policies and budgets

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THANK YOU