I began digging deeper into access for all on an international scale, I went to the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. A recent post was about the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In this document there are a few specific targets about access and technology.
"Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements." (Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
This document led me to the Technology and Social Change Group (TASCHA) through the University of Washington and the many different research projects they are working on related to access as well and other projects.
From here, I ended up with a variety of links which lead me to Libraries Without Borders which seems to provide many different resources including the Ideas Box which provides technology including internet connection, laptops and books to be used in humanitarian emergencies and post-conflict situations.
The Ideas Box reminded me of how wifi access is an issue in many areas including rural communities. Some videos I have seen regarding wifi access include equipping school buses with wifi so students can do their homework on the bus while commuting. Or even how one school district even got creative in parking school buses in low-income areas to help with the digital divide.
From my research this week, I have learned there are many different organizations looking at increasing access for all but another side which has come out of my discussions with others about this blog post is the idea of "neocolonialism." Another concept which I had never really thought about prior to this post. But, I have had friends participate in Project Overseas and this is a concern when looking at libraries and resources in developing nations.
I have a lot to learn in regards to this topic and look forward to reading the other blog posts to see where their research took them.
Introducing Rolling Study Halls. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfDQ2oH2ZlM
Libraries Without Borders. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.librarieswithoutborders.org/
The Story of a Book - Calgary Reads. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=293&v=rs0hCQe-8uI
Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development .:. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform. (2018). Retrieved from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld
Wi-Fi-enabled school buses leave no child offline. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOlG3fH0GpY
2 comments:
Well done, honest post about the reality that we live in a very wealthy country with regular access and a healthy public library system and a supportive education system. Despite challenges, we are still doing quite well in Canada, but there are many examples around the world where communities need more support, more access and more training on how to better support their communities and increase literacy. A good amount of discussion and evidence of your explorations this week.
I really appreciate that you mentioned a Canadian program (Calgary Reads). For this post I immediately began searching for the communities that typically come to ones mind when considering developing societies. However, your post reminds me that there are worth while things happening right in my own community and it is important that I am aware of those as well.
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