Join us remotely for EIFL's IGF presentation

At this year’s Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Nairobi, Kenya, the findings from the EIFL commissioned research study to explore perceptions of public libraries in 6 African countries  will be discussed (Perception study overview and complete findings available here). IGF is the major policy making forum that emerged from WSIS (World Summit on the Information Society).

Presenting at IGF is an excellent opportunity to reach a broad audience of policy makers (over 1,000 attendees, from 100 countries). And, in accordance with this year’s theme (Internet as a catalyst for change: access, development, freedoms and innovation), our workshop will also provide an excellent forum for demonstrating innovative ways that public libraries are using the Internet to benefit their communities.

Remote Participation

You can participate remotely by watching videocasts or listening to audiocasts from the meeting rooms and reading real-time closed captioning. Learn more (select Room 9 from the list).

Workshop details

Title: Do policymakers understand the role of libraries in mobilising the internet as a catalyst for development, innovation and freedom?

Date and time: 28 September 2011, 11 am Nairobi, Kenya time (to convert into your time zone, visit http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/)

Workshop Number: 185

Workshop description: This workshop will discuss the findings of a recent study of perceptions of public libraries by policy makers in 6 countries in Africa. The study reveals that policy makers still think of libraries in terms of printed media, and not as spaces for catalysing internet access and use. Yet there is substantial evidence that innovative and ICT enabled public library services contribute to development. Case studies will be presented to demonstrate how some developing countries have made use of ICTs in libraries to mobilise the internet for development. The workshop will be interactive and engage participants in helping to identify mechanisms that can convince policy makers to recognise the potential of internet in libraries to strengthen access and diversity.

Speakers

• Anriette Esterhuysen, Director, APC (Moderator)
• Richard Atuti, Director Kenya National Library Service
• Geoffrey Kimani, Director of Research and Insights, TNS International
• Monika Elbert, EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme
• Government representative from Finland
• Government representative from Latin America or Kenya (to be confirmed) 

Files / Images: 

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