JSTOR Gives African Nations Free Access

In an effort to improve access to scholarly journals, JSTOR has created the Open Africa Program to waive participation fees for any academic or not-for-profit institution on the continent of Africa. Not only that, but participating institutions will receive a pro-rated refund for any fees paid to JSTOR in 2006. The only stipulations are that the institution must have stable IP addresses, and they must take the JSTOR Network Performance Test in order to evaluate any potential problems with networking.

Participation fees will be waived for as long as economic conditions in the institutions and within the country dictate.

This is great, but why not give other less-developed countries the same break on cost?

Normally, JSTOR tailors its access fees according to a country's gross national income. However, JSTOR has limited this access plan to Africa "in part because barriers to sustainability and access are so broadly similar across this region."

I don't know how many other database/archiving companies out there are doing this sort of thing, but my hope is that JSTOR's efforts will be the kick in the pants to jump-start similar programs.

Education, knowledge, opportunity -- these are the tools that will make this world a better place.

Silent But Deadly

I found this on the LSJ Discussion Forum, and since it (loosely) fits my purposes for this blog as being both "international" and "library"-related, I thought I'd share it with you. (Thanks for giving us the heads-up, Kate!)

This is from a Japanese game show called Silent Library, in which participants attempt to remain silent while being subjected to humorous forms of torture in a library. The goal, of course, is for the victim to remain silent. (It is a library.)

Eli likes "Old Man Bites Tenderly" the best, but I think the "Bad Smell Air" round (pictured above right) is my personal favorite. And you know it's from Japan because at the end, they all settle in for a rousing karaoke session.

So, sit back and have a laugh. I can't help thinking that if I was the librarian, I'd probably be joining in.

So what does that say about me?

Want Books? Pull Those Pants Up!

Who would have thought that access to information would be determined by the visibility of one's undergarments? Not me.

In an attempt to deter students from showing their undies, the Tullbroskolan school in the Falkenburg area of Sweden has decided to ban pupils from borrowing books if their underwear is visible above their belts. Students wearing baseball caps or beanies will also be turned away.

And I thought Sweden was supposed to be one of the world's most progressive nations.

I admit that my skin crawls every time I see some young hip-hopster dude with his pants around his knees like he's all sumthin' sumthin, undies displayed proudly for all to see. And I've seen way too many thongs creeping up the lower back of many a young lady. Do I like it? No. Would I refuse to lend them access to books because of it? No way. Getting young people to read is hard enough as it is--why make it harder? Once we start drawing the battle lines around what students choose to wear, the door is open to impose other ridiculous obstacles to literacy.

Wha's up wid dat?

Photo: Håkan Johansson

On A Personal Note...

A brand spankin' new student library journal called, er, Library Student Journal, is about to make its debut! This peer-reviewed student publication of the University at Buffalo School of Informatics and Department of Library and Information Studies (where I happen to go...) is open access, and will include scholarly papers from library students around the world, as well as editorials, reviews, and essays that focus on current issues in the library field.

As one of the section editors, part of my job will be to sort through all of the submissions and bring you the very best in scholarly student research. If you're interested in being a part of the LSJ experience, visit the Web site to find out more about how to get involved. There, you can also read the Editor's Blog, or make yourself heard in one of our discussion forums.

All are welcome, so let's get this party started!

YTF Starts Digital Village in Nigeria

(click to enlarge)

Information access as a means to empower people to improve their lives and communities is no secret to those of us in the library field. Now, the Youth for Technology Foundation (YTF) is using this very philosophy to bridge the information gap that exists in underdeveloped countries. The YTF is responsible for several programs -- Tech Kids, Tech Teens, Tech Communities, and Tech Enhancement -- whose aim is to introduce and train both individuals and communities to use technology as a tool to create more opportunites for themselves.

In addition, the YTF has created several other unique programs, including the The Owerri Digital Village, a community technology and learning centre in Eastern Nigeria established to create learning communities in rural and marginalized areas in Nigeria. Both local and international volunteers work with students at the Owerri Digital Village and the local community to develop an understanding of technology and how it can enhance their lives.

Begun in July 2004, the program "hopes to foster wealth creation, reduce unemployment and create self-sustaining communities by providing rural communities with the technology tools, training and resources to enable them to realise their potential."

Find out more about the Owerri Digital Village and all of the YTF's programs at the YTF Web site.

Some of the students proudly holding their certificates after
graduation from the Owerri Digital Village program.
(Source: Youth For Technology Tech Drums newsletter.)

Librarians Without Borders

You've heard of Doctors Without Borders. Now librarians are getting into the act.

Founded in February 2005 by MLS students at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada, Librarians Without Borders (LWB) believes that "access to information is vital in supporting learning and literacy, reducing poverty, empowering citizens, and building healthy, strong communities. We envision a global society where all people have equal access to information resources.

LWB is a non-profit organization that strives to improve access to information resources regardless of language, geography, or religion, by forming partnerships with community organizations in developing regions."

For their first project, LWB is working with their partners in the South Africa country of Angola to develop Biblioteca Tutangi, a desperately needed nursing and medical library that will support the learning needs of university and college students in Huambo, who don't have access to an official library

While a new building was acquired and renovated early 2004, there are no books. So, the LWB's challenge is to fill the library's empty shelves, populate it with skilled support staff, and establish a plan that ensures its long-term viability.

This library will be open to all students and residents of Huambo, regardless of ethnicity or religion. Books on all subject matters will populate the shelves, including resources about AIDS treatment and sexuality.For more information on the project and/or make a donation, visit the Librarians Without Borders site.

Gone, and Seemingly Forgotten... Tsunami Aftermath Lingers On

Destroyed school library in
Kahawa, Sri Lanka
It's been almost a year and a half since the devasting earthquake and tsunami that decimated parts of Africa and East Asia. While UNESCO began an assessment of the damage to libraries and information centers in early 2005, the going has been understandably slow. In January 2005, W. A. Abeysinghe, Chairman of the Sri Lankan National Library and Documentation Boards (NLDSB) made an appeal for help in a publication by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). “A large number of school libraries, community libraries, children libraries, public libraries, libraries belonging to religious institutions… have either been completely destroyed or severely affected."

Even more troubling is the disappearance of this tragedy from our national consciousness. With new and bigger stories fighting for headline space, the plight of the people affected by the devastation has gone to that no-man's land in the back of all of our minds. We remember that it happened, but it's no longer something we're concerned about. The didn't-they-fix-that-yet? mentality is something we're all guilty of, myself included. Until I happened upon an article on the UNESCO site, I honestly hadn't given much thought to how the rebuilding efforts are going, or whether they're going at all.

In June 2005, UNESCO made a plea to the international media to refocus attention on the areas affected by the aftermath of the earthquake/tsunami.

"Media Roundtables bringing together government, civil society, tsunami victims and the media held by AMIC-India with the support of UNESCO and FES in Hyderabad (March 2005) and in Kerala (May 2005) reviewed an analysis of media coverage since the tsunami and called on the media to do more investigative reporting probing the needs and conditions of ordinary people and communities (from agricultural workers to fish and boat labourers, salt pan and other common service providers), whose stories remain untold, in addition to the fishermen."

It's not that relief efforts aren't taking place -- the ALA has even set up a special fund for libraries that were damaged by the tsunami -- it's just that we're not hearing about them anymore.

If you need a visual reminder of what's at stake, I've found a graphical representation of the devastation to public libraries on the UNESCO site showing that 52 libraries in Sri Lanka alone have been destroyed or severely damaged by the events of December 26, 2004.

Destroyed library in a costal town, Sri Lanka
(Images from UNESCO Tsunami site)