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Libraries as Resource Centers for Local
Information Society

• Tuula Haavisto
• Senior Library Adviser
• Helsinki, Finland
• tuulah_at_kaapeli.fi
• This version of the presentation has no photos,
  to make the file transfer quicker!

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Brains grow in libraries
Why do libraries exist? Why to finance
libraries? - self-clear in research and studies
--gt long tradition, beginning from ancient
cultures- preserving culture- for ordinary
readers, an idea from the 18th (bourgeoise) and
the 19th centuries (all people)        - both
enlightment (idealists) and industrialisation
(utilitarists) motivated to offer literacy
skills to common people
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Information SocietyIntensified usage of
information

• the roles of all information memory
  institutions are under re-defining
• the basic reason more intensive use of contents
  of all kinds, more business and other activities
  around them
• information and culture institutions important
  when the development is dependent on what happens
  between our ears

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Libraries vs. schools and media

• schools, education to learn the basics of using
  information and other intellectual resources
• media to follow the day-to-day history, get
  background information and reasons
• libraries answer to peoples own questions,
  information cultural needs they also offer
  intellectual, emotional and recreational
  surprises
• Library systems are built up in long-sight to
  help people find what they themselves need
• school and media portions are ready-made,
  libraries support self-service

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Libraries connect media and users

• Libraries with all their resources
• - staff
• collection
• catalogues
• secondary sources
• cataloguing, classificaton, indexing
• interlending system
• ther forms of networking
• etc.

• Users/readers
• with their different information and cultural
  needs
• with their varying ability to find and use
  information and culture

• Media
• variety of forms
• exponentially growing amount

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Library policy development connected into the
Information Society development
In the Information Society, citizens need     
    - easy access to information and knowledge,
         - nurturing of their creative
powers. The motivations can vary          - in
Nordic countries democracy          - in
Singapore economy BUT the same
conclusion More resources to libraries.
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Benefits of libraries in the Information Society
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• Traditionally, libraries have been known as the
  leading promoters of books and reading - which
  continues to be a strong role into the future
• But their roles are much broader in driving a
  successful Information Society
• provide an extensive web of internet access
  points, each supported with advice and training
• offer relevant information in appropriate formats
  and languages
• develop literacies and capacity
• support health and education

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Benefits of libraries in the Information Society
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• provide opportunity and choice for children and
  the benefits of lifelong learning
• promote innovation and economic development
• ensure the preservation and promotion of cultural
  heritage and diversity
• foster respect and understanding between peoples.
  
• This development can be seen in active and
  properly resourced libraries which are to be
  found in many countries.

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The new wave of public library development

• beginning from the 70s
• connected with the awakening Information society
  (IS)- France, Spain/Catalonia,
• Portugal, Belgium/Flanders
• Slovenia, Hungary, Czech
• Rep., the Baltic countries,
• Croatia
• Singapore, Chile, Malaysia

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An example The Portuguese library building
program, status 2003 Dark blue
inaugurated Light blue building phase
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Case Länsimäki (Vantaa, Finland)

• a suburb of the 70s in
• Helsinki region, 9000 residents
• education and income level lower than average in
  Finland / in Helsinki region
• high unemployment, highest percentage of
  immigrants in Vantaa
• Vantaa is the 4th largest city in Finland

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The library to bridge the inequalities

• Information Cottage project 2002-gt
• to teach Information Society Skills to those who
  do not have the possibility in their own work (or
  school)
• supported by Urban program of the European Union
• targeted for the elderly, the ethnic minorities
  (esp. women), and the unemployed
• local organisations of pensioners, immigrants and
  unemployed involved

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Information Adviser of the Information Cottage

• an immigrant himself, too easy to approach
• free introductory lessons in using computers
• available daily to advise users in information
  search from Internet, and technical matters
• maintaining the website (www.urbantietotupa.net)
  and the technical equipment

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Examples of matters to learn and search in the
Information Cottage

• news from the home country
• employment
• banking
• contact with decision-makers, democracy
• studies, funding
• e-cards, connections with relatives
• plus everything possible from film star gossips
  to concert information, from sports results to
  stock markets

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Win-win situation

• Through the Information Cottage, the library
  supports other policies and practices of the
  Vantaa City
• many public services available in electronic form
  (e.g. to seek a day-care for a child) can be
  used in libraries
• economical solution in spreading Information
  Society skills using the existing network of
  libraries, no new inventions needed
• There are separate information cottages
  elsewhere in Finland, but it is better to combine
  with libraries more resources available in one
  place

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Same ideas in Vienna and Rotterdam

• The main libraries in Rotterdam (from 70s) and
  Vienna (2001) are built in such parts of their
  cities, which needed face-lifting poor areas,
  lots of problems
• This has succeeded, in Rotterdam even twice the
  renovation in 2002-2004 again made it a very
  popular and central element in the city

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Case Public Law Library, Chisinau, Moldavia

• founded 2000, part of the Chisinau City Library
• financing till 2003 from the Soros Foundation,
  now up to the City
• concentrates in offering access to law material
• important staff helps in finding material and
  using it 8 staff members
• the mission statement connects the library
  clearly to the democratic development of Moldova
  everyone has the right to get law information

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Small space, always occupied

• Offers both printed material and
• 13 PCs, incl. several law CD-Roms and access to
  law databases
• queues always outside, including Sundays one
  person allowed to use Internet and CD-Roms 1 hour
  at a time
• offers an on-line exhibition
• offers training courses in using law material
• http//www.pll.md/ (in Romanian)

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Case Learning Centre Aleksandria, Helsinki

• In many educational institutions, libraries are
  nowadays integrated into learning environments
• In Helsinki University, the new Learning Centre
  Aleksandria serves these principles an open
  space on the central campus, with tens of PCs
• All university students and teachers can use,
  electronic identification (7.40038.000 potential
  users)
• Extra resources, the databases paid by the
  libraries, are here available
• Group work and meeting rooms also available

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The international eIFL.net

• Serves first of all research and education
• An independent foundation that strives to lead,
  negotiate, support and advocate for the wide
  availability of electronic resources by library
  users in transition and developing countries.
• Main focus negotiating affordable subscriptions
  on a multi-country consortial basis, and
  supporting the enhancement of emerging national
  library consortia in member countries.
• 45 countries, more than 2200 libraries
• www.eifl.net, http//www.eifl.net/index_ru.html

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Abre Tu Mundo Open Your World project

• Chilean goverment with Bill Melinda Gates
  Foundation, financinf 50/50 running from 2001-
• to increase access to computers Internet and
  expand technology training.
• The percentage of government run public libraries
  with computers grew from 10 ? 100 percent in
  2003.
• Increase of 53 of adults and 28 of children
  using the libraries.
• The project also sparked new community interest
  in libraries, with an additional 32
  municipalities opening their first public library
  to participate in the initiative.
• http//www.gatesfoundation.org/Libraries/Internati
  onalLibraryInitiatives/MexicoLibraries.htm

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Libraries and the IS discussion

• Media and education training indeed in focus
  of the Information Society discussion
• In many but not all - countries, libraries have
  been included in the principle papers, statements
  and strategies, but need more public
  consideration and acknowledgement
• In general, libraries deserve more attention in
  the IS discussion!

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Thank you for your attention!