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Ironically, this is a topic I have explored in my own school due to our unique set up. As mentioned in a former blog post, we have over 3,000 students, 3 campuses and programs that range from face to face to online with everything in between. Additionally, physical space is scarce. The challenges for implementation an effective library are obvious. Consequently, I collaborated with UVic professors to create a pilot online library that utilized eReaders and digital formats. The pilot library was successful while the Sony eReaders, limited at that time and not connected to wifi were restrictive. Click here to see our final paper on the project.

Fast forward to today where current mobile devices and the district’s wireless infrastructure are now of a quality to support our original vision. As well, almost all students in my class have access to a mobile device. However, as I will be on maternity leave in 3 months I will have to leave this for someone else or another time. That being said, the Greater Victoria Public Library is doing a wonderful job of making digital media available through mobile devices (although it could be more intuitive). The question though is, should everyone do their own thing or collaborate on a global level (e.g. Project Gutenberg)?

The University of Cape Town Library HIV/AIDS Video Archive

A specific library project in a developing nation that has caught my attention is the University of Cape Town Library HIV/AIDS video archive. Often I think we can forget the sheer power of knowledge and access to knowledge. What I like about this project is its potential to evoke change in the world. The university library and the Community Media Trust have spent the last 15 years capturing 3,000 hours of video footage detailing the South African AIDS epidemic. The goal is to capture the personal stories of those living with the disease as well as the broader story of the pandemic in South Africa (political and social context, implications, impact, etc.).

Changing the World

The university believes that this archive has already has a direct impact on policy and public awareness. The documentary film TAC: Taking HAART used extensive footage from the archive to highlight the government’s inaction as well as strategies that work for prevention and treatment. As well, the United Nation has focused on the transmission of HIV between mothers and children in their 2015 UN Millennium Development Goals (4 to 6).

Accessibility

Currently, the archive is underutilized due to accessibility which, in turn, is funding dependent. The current focus is to digitize, log and process the footage, making the archive searchable. The library received an Elsevier Foundation Innovative Libraries in Developing Countries grant in 2010 for this purpose. However, next would be online global accessibility to the archive and, as yet, there is no discussion around a time frame for digitization completion and how the archive will be accessible once digitized. Accessibility will be key as the university moves forward to support the local needs of their communities.

Mobile Devices & Literacy

However, it is not enough to create an accessible and user friendly database. The public must have the means to access the database and this is where mobile devices come in. Mobile data traffic increased 107% in 2013 in Africa and is projected to have the highest growth rates in the world over the next 5 years (Crisco, 2014). However, wide spread access to mobile devices and networks is still a ways off and a worthy goal to work towards for increased literacy and information access. Consequently, the library will need to promote mobile device initiatives as well as offering video viewing devices through and at the library. As knowledge around HIV and AIDS becomes more easily accessible by the masses, people will have an opportunity to not just change policy and spark dialogue but also to prevent and/or better live with the disease. Imagine not being able to at least Google a topic that has such impact on you! We take our easy access to information for granted in North America (or, at least, I do).