DIGITAL INCLUSION: Libraries connecting communities in the last mile Buhle Mbambo-Thata Executive Director UNISA Library

Part 1 Entrenched on Development

UN 2030 Pillars (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org)

A peaceful and secure Africa. A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development. An integrated continent, politically united, based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance. An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law.  A peaceful and secure Africa. An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics. An Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children. Africa as a strong, united and influential global player and partner. http://www.au.int/en/agenda2063/aspirations

National Development Plan Active Citizenry Freedom of Access to Information Teaching and research targets A library in every community

Part 2 The Africa we want depends on all of us

The Africa we want

Africa’s Population- a continent of hope Continental interdependence Some statistics 65 % population below age 40 5 of the world’s fastest growing economies Ours is a continent of hope!

White paper highlights Integrated policy Freedom of access to information Open access Effective and fair competition Empower citizens Access for all populations including those in rural areas A commitment to bringing rural communities into the 21st century.

Part 3 Some opportunities Government policies promoting investments in ICT infrastructure and undersea fibre optic cables mean that a lot more African scholars will have access to decent internet connections. Internet penetration rates, both web and mobile, in Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya are above or close to the world average of 32%. large licensing organisations, such as Creative Commons, into the African market could reinforce existing legal frameworks and sensitise communities on intellectual property and copyright law Part 3 Some opportunities

Costs of Broadband needs be reduced Research Networks and collaboration Africa’s digital citizens Mobile: “If what the youngsters have is mobile phones, then that is what we have to work with,” Vosloo (2011)

65% - 70% of Africa’s people own a mobile phone Connectivity increases every year – mobile cell coverage expands Opportunity for inclusivity However UNESCO statistics indicate that most mobile phones in are not smart phone and therefore limited in functionality

Part 4 Library Digital initiatives

African digital initiatives Digital Libraries- strong on local knowledge digitization Botswana- Public Libraries connected to Internet partnership with BMGF Ghana Library Authority (GLA) Mobile health Information Public Library Innovation programmes Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda- agriculture a and health information South Africa: where are we? 1154 libraries are connected to the internet International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publication and Electronic Information for Libraries have funded training for librarians in Africa, but much more training is still needed to institutionalise open access

Public access to internet through libraries Through the conditional grant 1154 libraries offer internet services to the public.

Public Library: only point of access Libraries are safe. Funded by tax payers

Children section- reading e-books

Part 5 Conclusion

Living no one behind Connecting next billion requires Multi sector approach that ensures none is left behind Digital local content production ICT White paper refers to infrastructure provision for remotest areas Connecting rural libraries -a development imperative Source: http://www.niso.org Slide indicates some ways to overcome the 3 levels of the Information Gap listed below: No 1. Access divide to information resources high quality research papers are mostly published in English journals (Li et al., 2008; Chen, 2004), No 2. capability divide (the inequality of the capability to exploit information resources No 3. outcome divide which refers to the inequality of outcomes (e.g. learning and productivity) of exploiting information resources in given contexts.

Conclusion Libraries promoting active citizens. Evidence of services for digital citizens. ICT White Paper will facilitate remote access . Libraries are bridging the digital divide - connecting citizens- building the Africa we want.

Thank You Dr Buhle Mbambo-Thata mbambtb@unisa.ac.za