Bridging digital divide

One Library Per Village (Collaborative Learning Centers)

Around the world, in developed as well as developing countries, Libraries play an important role in the dissemination of knowledge. The availability of information resources can often mean the dif-ference between poverty and prosperity, particularly in underdeveloped communities.

In India, approx 40% of the population lives be-

low the poverty line, Illiteracy rates are more than 25-30% and digital literacy is almost

non-existent among more than 80% of India’s

population.

Connecting the community and its members to the world through the Internet is becoming

increasingly essential for community vitality for the development and social progress

The divide between the ‘information poor’ and the ‘information rich’ is now one of India’s burning issue. The Digital Divide has

(i) access to computers, (ii) connectivity, (iii) content

as the core elements , emphasize most researches in Indian subcontinent.. Lack of proper ICT infrastructure, Education and illiteracy are its main reasons. The availability of information re-sources can often mean the difference between Poverty and Prosperity, particularly in under developed communities.

Volunteering through Libraries

Dream

We dream of prosperous world where knowledge is equally shared among rural or urban , rich or poor without

any discrimination. We dream of a so-ciety that is not poor; a world which is

literate, healthy and empowered.

Mission

To create awareness and share the latest tools, services and resources which enrich the experiences of users of the libraries and enhance their learning and career de-

velopment activities. To support scholarship, intellectual growth and critical

inquiry, and to promote a continuing love of learning in a welcoming space where people choose to gather.

“One Library Per Village” (OLPV) is dedicated to reduce this digital divide by networking libraries and empowering the readers with latest technological tools and creating a vibrant community of users and volunteers.

OLPV Vision

1) Libraries as Universities

(2) Libraries as community centers for diverse populations, (3) Libraries as centers for the arts, (4) Libraries as community builders, (5) Libraries as champions of youth.

Ad a tages to people

Read Millio s of e- ooks

Clarif dou ts ith e pert tutors

Ate d O li e ourses MOOC

Appl for aio al/i ter aio al Jo s

Create olla orai e lear i g groups

Ate d O li e Tutori g

Ate d Le tures & Se i ars

Pla edu aio al ga es

First i e I ter et users ill get support fro olu teers

OLPV helps bridge the digital divide

The Library will be with in the reach of lo-cal area, It is accessible to all within the village.

Common people in rural areas face signif-icant challenges when it comes to Internet access, including infrastructure problems and set-up costs. Libraries are social plac-es where people can chat, read and keep in touch with the outside world. A Layman who can’t access a computer or a Tablet get support here.

"One Library Per Village " is a revolutionary notion, and when people don’t have free access to books, then communities are like radios without batteries

OLPV Proposal:

Digitize Libraries in Villages/town.

Network all Libraries using Apps

Provide free Internet to Library members ( free wifi ).

Provide Training to Volunteers to teach first time Internet users.

Enhance e-learning activities in Li-brary through MOOC /Online tutor-ing.

Support local authors to publish their e-content

Case Stud

Digital Litera Week

Methodology

We ide iied re ote illage Li raries a d got support of a i e lo al olu teers. We rea hed e er fa il i illage distri ui g pal lets a d e s i er a ular papers. Pa ha at preside ts of respe i e illage i augurated the e e t. Got so e spo sorship fro lo al usi ess house. Co puter a d sot are i Mala ala as arra ged. College stude ts ith o puter k o ledge ere trai ed to take sessio for egi ers

Stude ts ere arra ged i s all groups a d alloted separate i e ith a olu teer. Stude ts e e ouraged to ask dou ts a d help the to i d soluio s ithi groups.

Result More tha people ate ded the e e t

We got er good respo se fro house i es espe iall et ee & rs.

S hool / ollege stude ts alread k o a out o puter a d i i g the ith egi -ers as dii ult.

We reated s all tea of stude ts olu teer ho lariied dou ts of egi ers.

Stude ts preferred o puter sot are progra i Mala ala , it helped the to lear i their o pa e.

SOLE Self orga ized Lear i g E iro e t s ste orks ith Village people , here the lear the sel es i olla orai e a .

Some findings of this program.

More house i es are ore i terested i lear i g o puter.

Ver less ge ts tur ed to ards the trai i g progra .

Ladies ill easil lear o puter i group ith self-lear i g i tera i e progra s.

People prefer olla orai e lear i g groups - of their hoi e.

Most of the a t to help their kids s hool ho e ork's.

Ater oo . PM to . PM are ost preferred i e for house i es

Jo seekers lear faster a d the looki g for support for e a preparaio

Stude ts lear o puter i s hool / ollege ut la k pra i al trai i g.

People ho use s art pho es do 't ha e e ail id ut use fa e ook & atsapp

People i terested to lear i lo al la guage.

O l er fe illagers are i terested i ha i g PC i ho e fear of u a ted o te ts

I iial lear i g hurdle is iggest stu li g lo k

People lear eter he the do the sel es a d dis uss ith peers.

Li raries a efe i el use as adult lear i g e ters

Stude ts are i terested i olu teeri g.

Reference

http://digitalliteracyweek.blogspot.in/

http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/digital-literacy-week-from-

february-21-115021900734_1.html

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-youngworld/get-booked/article7037309.ece

One Library Per Village Sujai.G.Pillai sujai@ ion.org 9 -9 9 7 - 9