Advocacy and evidence for sustainable public computer access

Abstract

Purpose -This paper aims to draw together the evidence-based advocacy experience of five national programs focused on developing public access information and communications technologies (ICT) via public libraries as grantees of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Global Libraries Initiative. Design/methodology/approach -The authors describe a common approach to strategic advocacy and to impact planning and assessment. They then outline the experience of each program in using a range of evidence to help meet specific advocacy objectives. They give particular attention to how each program is using specific evidence to convince key players of the importance of public access ICT provided by public libraries in meeting the objectives of the key players. Findings -This collective experience shows that when advocating at the national level, statistical data and empirical evidence can demonstrate that public libraries contribute to stakeholders' goals. Such data can include technology skills that users have gained as well as how users improve their businesses, become better educated, and access government services. Common denominators from the programs include a disproportionate positive impact achieved (or anticipated) in rural communities and on relatively disadvantaged groups such as older workers, old people and unemployed people. Practical implications -Both the general approach to evidence-based advocacy described and the specific messages about targeting advocacy efforts on key players and on the service users who are most likely to benefit from public access ICT are of potential value to anyone planning a national, regional or local advocacy program focused on public libraries and their services. Social implications -As the paper deals with global library advocacy issues, and impact planning, it is hoped it is a step towards more measurable social impact for libraries. Originality/value -This is the first full public report of the Global Libraries approach to evidence-based advocacy as conducted in the five countries represented in the paper. It is part of a steadily growing body of knowledge being amassed by Global Libraries about effective provision of public access ICT via public libraries in a range of countries.

Eradicating information poverty: An agenda for research

“…The Global Libraries programme was set up specifically to try to address the information divide, by finding ways of providing wider free access to the Internet to people who either did not have any access, or who only had very limited access at a cost beyond their means. The programme was realistic in its aspirations, not intervening in the places with greatest poverty, but in countries with sufficient information infrastructure and a network of public libraries upon which to build (Sawaya et al, 2011). The programme is due to complete in 2018, with three legacy partners, the Public Library Association, the Technology and Social Change Group at the University of Washington (TASCHA) and IFLA, to continue the work through the International Advocacy programme.…”

“…Chowdhury and Koya (2017) identify over 30 information-related themes that are embedded in the UN’s (2015) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) policy documents, evidencing the key role that access to information has in building stronger economies. Work on the Global Libraries Initiative also reinforces the extent to which information poverty continues to be a priority for international development organisations (Sawaya et al, 2011). Sadly, however, that programme will be concluded in 2018, with only a legacy element to continue.…”

Data challenges for public libraries: African perspectives and the social context of knowledge

“…The purpose of this paper is not to feed into representations of African libraries as chronically underresourced and lacking in capacity, but rather, to constructively engage with first-hand accounts of how librarians are experiencing and actively navigating barriers in order to offer potential avenues forward for the field. As the analysis will show, the local, social context of knowledge production plays a large role in the capacity of libraries to enact evidencebased advocacy (Bundy, 2003;Sawaya et al, 2011), and this may be overlooked in capacity-building efforts. This understanding, then, exists at "the intersection of information science and social scientific thinking and practice" (Cronin, 2008: 465), and it is presented for those who collect data on African libraries as well as those who support the use of data in these settings to gain insight and spark reflection.…”

Open Access Institutional Repositories in Nigeria Academic Libraries: Advocacy and Issues in Scholarly Communication

“…This implies that librarians must constantly demonstrate the importance of IRs so as to promote visibility of scholarly productivity of members of the faculty, students, staff, administration, alumnae, and other interest groups and friends of the academic institutions. Sawaya et al (2011) explain that advocacy encompasses actions to influence decision making at local, regional, state, national, and international levels. In line with this, Ezema (2011) adds that the use of advocacy has been found to be an efficient method of effecting changes in organizations and in the wider society, and, therefore, could be applied to creating awareness in the use of IRs for disseminating research findings of the institutions involved.…”