Wednesday, September 03, 2008

IL in developing countries

Yesterday I attended a SCONUL Working Group on Information Literacy meeting, and we had an interesting presentation from Peter Burnett, Head of Library Development at INASP (International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications), which works with librarians and librarian educators in developing countries. Part of their work involves supporting development of the library and information curriculum, and of training librarians in information literacy (although a larger amount is spent on supporting access/use/management of electronic information resources). The website is at http://www.inasp.info/

There are a number of publications, including a book with chapters on information literacy at universities in various developing countries:
Kiondo, E. and Msuya, J (Eds) (2005) User Information Literacy: Case studies from university library programmes in the SCANUL-ECS region. INASP and the Standing Conference of African National and University Libraries in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (SCANUL-ECS). ISBN-10 1 902928 27 X; ISBN-13 978 1 902928 27 2. Cost - £12.00. To order a print copy of the book, email inasp@inasp.info (it isn't available in electronic form: their reports etc. can be downloaded freely)
The current issue of the INASP newsletter also focuses on information literacy: it has one article "Bridging the Digital Divide in Malawi: Is information literacy part of the equation?" and another from Perpetua Dadzie, Department of Information Studies, University of Ghana on "Promoting Information Literacy: The role of the librarian". This and previous newsletter issues can be downloaded from http://www.inasp.info/file/369/newsletter.html Additionally, there is material relating to a training course about developing an information literacy programme (look in the Training Activities section. To download material you need to register (free). You also may be interested in supporting INASP's work e.g. by twinning with a library or providing advice.

Photo by Sheila Webber: Great Keppel Island, June 2008

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