Supporting the Revitalization of Public Libraries in Africa

The Carnegie Corporation of New York, with advice and technical support from the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP), has launched three projects to revitalize public libraries in Africa. Botswana National Library service has identified four model libraries in which stock will be updated, staff trained and ICT improved. Kenya National Library service will automate five model libraries and provide computers for clients use in Internet functions. Access to information will be improved through stock editing and there is an ongoing public relations programme. In South Africa three provincial library services and three municipal library services have received grants to extend their services to previously unreached groups within the community. Some systems selected children as their target groups, others illiterate adults or those needing training in the use of computers in information retrieval. INASP has organized workshops in support of the projects, and is undertaking research to strengthen the projects, as well as providing technical advice to the projects and to Carnegie Corporation.