LIBE477B

POST #4

MODULE 5

Developing World Libraries /
Mobile Devices 

Travelling always has me vising libraries and bookstores. I love to see what is available in other parts if the world. However, visiting "the best" always makes me wonder about "the rest". What about schools and libraries in developing nations?

As we move into a wider perspective than our own schools and Library Learning Commons spaces this post will examine school libraries in developing nations.

• What works? 
• What doesn't work? 
• How can we best support these projects; fulfilling their needs as opposed to our need to "feel good" or "do the right thing"?
• What types of resources are most needed and best utilized?
• Do electronics factor into these spaces and conversations?

From a Social Justice perspective, I want to open my students' eyes to global issues; instill compassion and understanding; guide them to make this world a better place and help them grow as caring, compassionate individuals.

In trying to get books into the hands of as many students as possible, mobile libraries are an excellent consideration. I discovered the Celsus: A Library Architecture Resource and the article "Mobile Libraries in Developing Countries".

I think the North Vancouver Public Library's outreach project, initiated by my cousin, Mikale Fenton, would be a great way to have a mobile libraries in developing nations (click here  for full article):

One of my initial thoughts when considering schools and libraries in developing countries  was back to when I was a teen and wanted to go to third world countries and help build schools. While I have not done that yet, it is still on my list; however, if I don't manage to do it myself, I will do my best to inspire students to make a difference in that way. Anytime I have the opportunity, I will share with students the story of Universal Outreach Foundation.

A second cousin of mine, Kent Bubbs, and his wife, Landis Wyatt, have been doing incredible and inspiring work in Liberia. Since 2007, they have been involved in overseeing the operations of a school in Royesville, Liberia through their foundation Universal Outreach Foundation.

I asked Kent and Landis, via e-mail, for some detail in how they went about setting up the school and specifically the library. Their responses were very detailed and interesting:

The construction of the school took 3 years and in that time we started the process of organizing the school and it's content. In Liberia there is no reading culture, meaning that people don't read outside of the school setting. Parents don't read, people don't read to each other, and people don't have books in their houses. We are living in a verbal society where stories and communications are all done by word of mouth. This being said it is very obvious when you live here that the lack of reading is also a contributor to the poor education system and the lack of information dissemination. When someone does have the ability to read then they have a hard time comprehending and absorbing what they have read, which often means that they are just reading words rather than fully understanding what they have read. 

All this being said we thought it would be a great idea to implement a library into the school and create some reading programs around it. We reached out to schools in the Vancouver area to see if they could do book drives and donate old books that they had. We were looking mostly for readers that small children could comprehend. We had a great response and collected enough books for 2 libraries. If we were to do it again we would look to raise funds to buy more contextually relevant books and also put out a list of books that we were looking for rather than miscellaneous readers. The libraries are not a typical library you would see in Canada but more just books on shelves that are sorted into age appropriate categories. 

Once the school was up and running we started the process of introducing reading to the kids and some of them enjoyed it but with no support at home is was quickly lost. There are definitely kids who read better than others and enjoy it when they are given the time and resources to do so but the majority still don't look at it as something they can do anytime. I think it is a struggle that will take generations to turn around and I also think the process is starting. Since the war ended, education has become an important part of the lives of Liberians and along with that will come the understanding of the importance of reading, but again it will take time. The most interesting thing about education is that it takes generations to have change. 

I hope this helps to answer your question and thank you for the interest in what we are doing, it is always nice to hear that people are reading the newsletters. Please feel free to continue this conversation if there are more questions. This is our lives and we love discussing it and trying to find new approaches and ideas. 

Kent Bubbs- Via e-mail conversation June 2018

One thing I would add to Kent’s comments is the need for contextually appropriate material when developing libraries abroad. We are about to establish a library later this year at our new after school resource center, Strive. Over the years I have been collecting contextually appropriate books for this library. We would like to have a story hour and I believe its important that kids have material read to them that they can relate to. That factor alone won’t change the fact that its not a reading culture but at least they will have stories made to them that they can relate to.

Landis Wyatt - via e-mail conversation June 2018

Kent and Landis' responses were so interesting and brought up important notions. While we see the need for education and want students to read and become "educated" part of me questions what exactly this means. Handing over our weeded books that are inaccurate, out of date and not relevant to the students seems to be a disservice to these communities. As Kent and Landis had said, contextually appropriate materials are what is needed most.

The American Library Association has some suggestions about donating books to needy libraries. Click here to view further information. I think the idea of selling used books and using and funds generated to purchase contextually appropriate materials is fantastic! Books that are out of date can cause more harm than the intended good and should be recycled.

Further to the school that Universal Outreach manages, they have initiated, developed, and supported an amazing sustainable project.

Beekeeping. 

Click below for further information:

Beekeeping Makes Sense

As Bubbs and Wyatt stated in the December 4, 2017 Guardian newspaper article (Click here to view entire article):  

“The schools were lovely, but there was such a strong charity feel to it all,” says Wyatt. “Giving people the ability to make money, that felt much more empowering. The big question came: ‘What are people asking for?’” says Bubbs. “And it was jobs.”

What about technology??

Since I am so intrigued by the work my cousins are doing in Liberia, I asked (via e-mail):

Within your school and the community, there is access to any sort of technology, either laptops or mobile devices, for people to access information and communicate with others? Also, if there is adequate internet access? If there is access to technology, is it effective and helpful? If not, is it something that you believe will happen in the not too distant future and do you think it will make a difference?

They responded with the following:

You are bringing up some very good questions that we have thought about in great detail and also tested in the field. As you know there are many benefits to the use of technology in the world of education. Both of my nephews had to have a tablet at school in their senior years. The issues that we face in a place like Liberia is the infrastructure in which it operates on and not necessarily the technology itself. 

We have build 2 rural schools that don't have any form of consistent current. Without current there is no technology. If you think about implementing a solar system then someone needs to maintain it and who will pay for the new batteries once they are finished? Then you have the issue of connectivity, who has the money to buy data for internet? Who has the money to keep their phone charged all the time so they can use it? If you have connectivity are you going to use it to communicate with people or research? If you don't come from a society that reads then just because you have the internet doesn't mean your going to read, instead you will use things like facebook, instagram or other platforms that use a lot of pictures and little writing and reading. 

There is a new educational concept being developed across Africa called "Bridge"
http://bridgepartnershipschools.com/ It basically uses a facilitator to implement an educational curriculum off a tablet. This has had huge controversy from the teachers unions because it undermines their jobs. In reality if you want to improve the education system in a place like Liberia then you need to start to eliminate the weakest links which is the teacher. The teachers in Liberia get paid poorly so it doesn't attract people that are very interested in the job and there is no quality control oversights by the Ministry of Education so anything goes. It appears that the Bridge schools are doing better than the regular public schools but really only time will tell. 

In regards to the use of technology we have seen massive shifts in the 12 years we have been living here. When we first arrives the only internet was basic dial up type, very slow and very expensive. Most people at that time didn't have a phone or way of communicating with other. Today everyone has a phone and a lot of people have smart phones. Some of the issues still exist such as cost of services and the lack of interest in reading or even understanding that you can search the internet for answers to questions you may have. 

So back to your original question, I believe that technology has great potential but the implementation is much more challenging than one might think. We are currently developing an after school resource center just outside of Monrovia. It will have a computer lab and various other forms of technology. I believe there will be a lot of trial and error going on but because we live here we should be able to see what is and is not working. We have been involved in the education sector for 12 years now and the challenges are huge but we also believe that you have to commit for the log term in order to see results in this area and that is what we are doing. 

Kent Bubbs and Landis Wyatt - Via e-mail conversation June 2018

Here is a video from the Bridge project to which Kent referred to above:

 I came across an interesting organization called Libraries Without Borders. Click here to be directed to their site. They work toward ensuring that people throughout the world have access to information, education and culture. 

There are many programs available to get smart phones and electronic devices into the hands of students in developing countries. As Kent and Landis said, the challenges are huge and it is a long term commitment.

References

1. James R. The 20 Coolest Libraries In The World | HiConsumption. HiConsumption. 2018. Available at: http://hiconsumption.com/2014/05/the-20-coolest-libraries-in-the-world/. Accessed June 30, 2018.

2. Celsus: A Library Architecture Resource - Mobile libraries in developing countries. Libraryarchitecturewikispacescom. 2018. Available at: https://libraryarchitecture.wikispaces.com/Mobile+libraries+in+developing+countries. Accessed June 30, 2018.

3. Bubbs K. Universal Outreach Foundation. Universal Outreach Foundation. 2018. Available at: http://universaloutreachfoundation.org/. Accessed June 26, 2018.

4. LibGuides: Book Donation Programs: International Donations. Libguidesalaorg. 2018. Available at: https://libguides.ala.org/book-donations/international. Accessed June 30, 2018.

5. Sweet as honey: the African killer bees providing a living in Liberia | Lorraine Mallinder. the Guardian. 2018. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/dec/04/african-killer-bees-providing-living-liberia. Accessed June 30, 2018.

6. The Future Begins Here. Bridge Partnership Schools for Liberia. 2018. Available at: http://bridgepartnershipschools.com/. Accessed July 1, 2018.

7. About Us | Libraries Without Borders. Libraries Without Borders. 2018. Available at: https://www.librarieswithoutborders.org/about-us/. Accessed June 27, 2018.

8. Shaw M. 'Spokes n Words' book bike coming to North Van this summer. Vancouver Is Awesome. 2018. Available at: https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/2018/05/02/book-bike-coming-north-vancouver/. Accessed June 30, 2018.: