The Polish-American Freedom Foundation and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have partnered to provide technological support and training to public libraries in Poland through the Library Development Program. The program aims to provide computers, internet access, and training to 3,350 rural libraries over 5 years to support citizens and community development. It will deliver equipment to 2,000 libraries, provide training to 3,000 librarians, and advocate for digital literacy nationwide. The program recognizes libraries' role in promoting an information society and aims to establish them as local centers for technology, education, and cultural development.

1. Public Libraries
– (why) are
they key agents
of promoting
information
society in
Poland?
Jacek Królikowski
Information Society
Development Foundation

2. Basic information about
Library Development Program
The Polish-American Freedom Foundation has partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
to help Poland’s public libraries provide access to computers, the Internet, and training. The Library
Development Program in Poland is implemented by the Information Society Development Foundation.

3. OUR VISION
Within 5 years public libraries participating in the Program will have
gained power to support the development of individual citizens and
entire communities.

4. OUR INTERVENTION MODEL
TECHNOLOGICAL TRAINING
SUPPORT SYSTEM
CAPACITY BUILDING ADVOCACY
OF THE LIBRARY SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATION

5. BASIC INFORMATION
» Implementation period: 2009-
2013
» Budget: USD 32 mln
» Target group: 3350 libraries from
rural areas (app. 50% of all
libraries on rural areas) from 1120
municipalities (out of 2300)
» Training: app. 3000 librarians will
participate in training courses (on
average 20 training days per
librarian)
» Technological support: app. 2000
computers and other equipments
will be delivered to libraries + free
help desk

6. BASIC INFORMATION
» Play Library Development Program:
http://www.biblioteki.org/pl/wiadomosci/czytaj/757

7. Internet non-
users in
Poland – who
they are?

8. KEY FEATURES OF INTERNET NON-USERS
» 73% of them is 45+
» More than 60% has elementary Internet users in Poland:
or vocational education cities (56%), rural areas (38%)
» They present low level of
involvement in social activities /
RURAL AREAS IN POLAND:
low social capital
39% of population live on rural areas
» Less frequent than users (15,5 mln)
participation in cultural activities Active on the labor market is 62% of
men an only 44% of women living on
» Compare to users higher rate of rural areas
unemployed Key sources of families income are
pensions and employment in public
» More than 60% of them live in institutions
Only 7% of population living on rural
villages and small cities
areas has higher education, compare to
» The most important reason for 23% in the cities
78% of public libraries is on rural
not having access to Internet: areas, 40% of them have no access to
lack of need and lack of skills Internet

9. Priority roles
for libraries
and their
social impact
within the
Digital Agenda
for Europe

10. MOST RELEVANT ACTION AREAS FROM DAfE
Lack of digital literacy and skills
„Europe is suffering from a growing professional ICT
skills shortage and a digital literacy deficit. These
failings are excluding many citizens from the digital
society and economy and are holding back the large
multiplier effect of ICT take-up to productivity growth.
This requires a coordinated reaction, with Member
States and other stakeholders at its centre.”
Missed opportunities in addressing societal
challenges
„By harnessing the full potential of ICT, Europe could
much better address some of its most acute societal
challenges: climate change and other pressures on our
environment, an ageing population and rising health
costs, developing more efficient public services and
integrating people with disabilities, digitizing Europe's
cultural heritage and making it available to this and
future generations (…).”

11. KEY ROLES OF THE LIBRARY AS AGENT OF PROMOTING
INFORMATION SOCIETY: BETWEEN PHYSICAL PLACE AND
VIRTUAL SPACE
LIBRARY

12. LIBRARY: (THIRD) PLACE WE TRUST – CULTURAL FORMATION
» ICT is a tool - cultural
background is required to use
this tool in right way
Research by Ofer Malamud
» Library have to be place for (university of Chicago), Cristian
social integration, providing Pop-Eleches (Columbia
access to culture and knowledge University) on results of „cheap
(including online access) laptop” for students program In
» To play this role library has to Romania (decrease of school
work in partnership with other achievements among students
local institutions (schools, from families with low cultural
cultural centers, museums, NGOs capital using computers)
etc.) Research by Jacob L. Victor
and Helen F. Ladd (Duke
» More (e)book reading = better University) on students from
questions we ask via Google South Carolina: ICT without
reading books is not beneficial.
Look at: It’s a book
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4BK_2VULCU

13. LIBRARY: (THIRD) PLACE WE TRUST – CULTURAL FORMATION
Statistical citizen of Poland, 30-39
years old - reads 5 books a year.
According to Polish publishers in next
5 years 50% of their income will come
from e-books.
“The question is therefore not whether
e-books will exist in the future but what
form they will take and whether they will
be widely adopted. Is there a tipping point
for eBooks and if so what are the
implications for public libraries?”

14. LIBRARY: (THIRD) PLACE WE TRUST – CULTURAL FORMATION
Library Development Program activities:
» 10 days workshop for app. 3000 librarians on partnerships,
planning of cultural activities, improving access to
knowledge from different resources, making library a space
for social integration etc.
» E-learning version of above mentioned workshop
» Educational computer game “Create your own Europe”
(Polish presidency in EU in 2011).
» With Association of Polish Architects:
manuals and on the spot consulting
on participatory library space design.

15. LIBRARY: BASIC ICT EDUCATION – DIGITAL KICK OFF
» Place we trust is a good “Schools are important and
place for education we need to ‘outreach’ to them,
but it is surprising how little
» Library as local center for effort is made to link up with
basic ICT education – schools as this can provide an
people need “digital kick experience for students which
off” to start can make them lifelong
» Traditional education and e- customers of libraries. At the
learning same time, schools seem
reluctant to work with us, so it is
» Cooperation with other local a two-way problem.”
“digital partners” “Librarians need to be
facilitators and conduits – and
to learn not to try and do
everything themselves.”

16. LIBRARY: BASIC ICT EDUCATION – DIGITAL KICK OFF
Library Development Program activities:
» ICT training for app. 2000
librarians
» As a part of broad
coalition of NGOs and
business: advocacy on
national level for National
Digital Literacy Program

17. LIBRARY: FREE ACCESS TO ICT – ALWAYS UPGRADED
» Probably for the next 5-10 years really fast, free and safe
Internet available in a library will be attractive
» Focus on access to more sophisticated and always
upgraded software
» Library as local “technology center” – carefully planned ICT
investments supported by local authorities
Broadband penetration rate in
Poland is 13,5% (2010)

18. LIBRARY: FREE ACCESS TO ICT – ALWAYS UPGRADED
Library Development Program activities:
» Computers and other equipment
delivery to app. 2000 libraries
» According to agreement with Polish
Telecom (TP SA) free Internet
available for all public libraries
“Our thinking needs to change so
that our physical and local
presence does not continue to be
a barrier to our global and virtual
role. The future is all about open
source library systems and online
access and delivery.”

19. LIBRARY: DIGITAL GUIDE – FRIENDLY INTERFACE TO KNOWLEDGE
» The most difficult role for library – is it possible to be a digital
guide when ICT is overwhelming and changing rapidly?
» Can library find local partners for this type of services?
» Library as local “technology center”:
 Introduction to e-services and more specific applications and software
 Actual information on recently available ICT solutions
» Guidance in access to knowledge:
 How to ask questions?
 Where to look for answers?
“If information is free, then
 How to validate knowledge?
librarians need to demonstrate
 How to present findings? their value-add. “

20. LIBRARY: DIGITAL GUIDE – FRIENDLY INTERFACE TO KNOWLEDGE
Library Development Program activities:
» Free help desk for libraries
one year after equipment
delivery covering broad
range of technological issues
» Actual information of ICT
tools available on
www.biblioteki.org
» Plan for extended support in
the area of ICT based on
Techsoup experience from
www.techsoupforlibraries.org

21. LIBRARY: PLACE FOR DIGITAL USERS – “WE WANT MORE”
» Research shows that people using ICT are inclined to initiate
social relations / build social capital and seek for more
knowledge / culture
» People with proper cultural background / capital and ICT skills
become “digital users” – they need more (e)books and more
technologies
» Library have to be ready to respond to these needs – it
requires constant reflection on library vision and improvement
of strategies for action
» Librarians have to try envisage services “digital users” will
need in the future

22. LIBRARY: PLACE FOR DIGITAL USERS – “WE WANT MORE”
Library Development Program activities:
» Specialized 3 days workshops on 8 types of library services
based on ICT for app. 2000 librarians
» Recommendations for regional libraries’ “strategies for the
future”
» Stimulation of the librarian community reflection on future
services

23. Key
technologies
that will
support the
public library
mission

24. KEY TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL SUPPORT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
MISSION
» Really fast, free and safe Internet – I hope to remove this
after 2020 
» Tools for e-learning and peer-education for librarians – e.g.
www.techsoupforlibraries.org type
» Web application and other tools for community basic ICT
education
» Online catalogues and other services
» Mobile access to library services

25. Future skills
required for
those working
in public
libraries

26. FUTURE SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THOSE WORKING IN PUBLIC
LIBRARIES
» Social skills – to make
library a “meeting place”
» Advanced ICT skills / Info-
broker skills
» Basic teaching skills
» Visionary skills – looking for
symptoms of the future now
» Strategic planning (including
ICT planning) and strategic
management / project
management skills
» Skills related to set-up of “We still live in a hierarchical
the partnerships command and control culture
when the world is demanding
» Fundraising and advocacy collaboration and networked
skills interaction.”

27. FUTURE SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THOSE WORKING IN PUBLIC
LIBRARIES - LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, TRAINING
SYSTEM
Specialist courses
ICT courses - 8 new library
functions
C
de on Long-term library
s In
im ve ult work plan te
l
lib ple opi anc r
e- net
ra m ng y le p
e o
pl ry w nt an n ar or
an o in d Summing-up ni ta
s rk g ng l
provincial +
conference
Implementation of
the plan
Grant
Good practices NGO support
programs for Local coalitions
Program for libraries
libraries

28. Opportunities
for and threats
to the future
of Europe’s
public libraries

29. OPPORTUNITIES
» Trust and respect for libraries
» Public access, free of charge services
» On rural areas quite often library is the only public meeting
place – important for building of the social capital
» Specialization in “knowledge management”- important in
knowledge society
» Significant contribution to development of the cultural capital
of the local communities
» People will probably need guidance in ICT, chaotic world

30. THREATS
» Is it possible to be “ICT
advanced” if technology is
changing rapidly and current
competencies of librarians
are very basic?
» Is it possible to develop
proper vision and prepare
effective response to the
future needs?
» Need for constant upgrade of
technologies = lack of local
funding for ICT in libraries
» Are librarians really ready to
admit, that books lending
cannot survive as key
function of the future library?

31. Priorities for
action over
the next five
years

32. PRIORITIES FOR ACTION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS
» Initiate European debate on future of the libraries - Achieve
common vision and EU standard of library and librarians
qualifications taking in to consideration specifics of the libraries
on rural areas
» EU capacity building program for libraries to achieve above
mention vision / standards (professional training, new models of
management – libraries as learning organization, strengthening
of the ICT competencies)
» Reform of university studies for librarians – more practical
competencies following the vision / standards
» Strengthening of professional development system for librarians
in member states

33. PRIORITIES FOR ACTION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS
» Development of the European level tools supporting libraries in
absorption of the current ICT solutions and promoting tools for
basic ICT education of library users (2.0 tools)
» Initiate EU level social campaign to promote new roles /
functions / services libraries provide – stimulate new needs of
the digital users
» Initiate European Digital Education Program with libraries as one
of the key implementing institutions
» Create European library services – content (Europeana), portal
with learning resources, library management models, EU
resources for public libraries???

34. Thank you!