Librii: A New Kind Of Digital Library For The Developing World

This new library-in-a-shipping-container plans on using growing Internet access in Africa to create a new model for making available both electronic information and physical books. It’s a conundrum that library advocates have struggled with for years: in many areas in the developing world, libraries run on donations, which means they often end up with irrelevant books that never even get removed from their boxes. People still come to libraries in these places for a quiet place to read and study, but certainly not because of the resources they provide. Recently, a crop of initiatives have launched that aim to make libraries more relevant again. Librii, a project from Libraries Across Africa that’s seeking $50,000 in funding from Kickstarter, is one of them. The project, which began as Librii director David Dewane’s thesis idea at the Rice School of Architecture, bills itself as "a digitally enhanced, community-based, revenue-generating library on the frontiers of broadband connectivity." In simple terms, the founders envision low-cost libraries (a single library in Ghana to start) that take advantage of the burgeoning fiber optic infrastructure in Africa to provide Internet access, curated content, educational programs, and of course, physical books.Read Full Story Continue reading at 'Fast Company'

[ Fast Company | 2013-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #educational programs

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Librii: A New Kind Of Digital Library For The Developing World'


An Idaho Public Library Will Become Adults-Only July 1, 2024

Donnelly Public Library will be for adults only beginning July 1, as a result of a bill in the state that would allow parents to sue libraries with "inappropriate material." Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2024-05-20 15:07:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #libraries


World Literature Today Announces 2024 Student Translation Prize Winners, by the Editors of WLT

World Literature Today Announces 2024 Student Translation Prize Winners, by the Editors of WLT News and Events [email protected] Tue, 05/14/2024 - 16:27 Lucy Coleman and Madeline Jones, winners of the 2024 Student Translation PrizesWorld Literature... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2024-05-14 21:27:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #important things #publishing world #literary translator #algonquin books #faculty sponsor #book editor #book review


Bookwire Releases a Report on Spanish-Language Digital Book Markets

Representing Bookwire customers in Spanish-language markets, this report finds strong performance of both ebooks and audiobooks. The post Bookwire Releases a Report on Spanish-Language Digital Book Markets appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-05-13 21:33:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #spanish-language markets #ebooks #digital book


How To Prepare for Pride Month in Libraries 2024: Book Censorship News, May 10, 2024

How to prepare for Pride month in the library, both as library workers and library lovers. That, plus this week's book censorship news roundup. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2024-05-10 11:30:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #library workers #pride month #libraries


The Week in Libraries: May 10, 2024

Among the headlines this week: John Oliver weighs in on book bans and libraries (and so do his viewers); more library drama in Alabama; and how to prepare for Pride month. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-05-10 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book bans #pride month #libraries


Librarians, Advocates Sue to Block Restrictive New Alabama Library Policies

The suit comes amid a months-long drama which saw allies of a right-wing group take over the library board and abruptly fire the library director. “This is about who should get to decide what books our kids get to read—parents or politicians,” said Angie Hayden of Read Freely Alabama, one of the... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-05-10 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:


Hacker demands ransom from B.C. libraries after data breach

Libraries in B.C. have been targeted by a hacker who threatened to release user data if a ransom was not paid. The B.C. Libraries Co-operative said it was contacted by a hacker "attempting to extort payment" using private information taken from its servers. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2024-05-03 18:55:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #data breach #libraries


Kristi Noem's Account Of Meeting World Leader In New Book Is 'Bulls**t': Report

The South Dakota governor had already stirred up controversy by revealing in her upcoming book that she shot and killed her young dog. Continue reading at HuffPost

[ HuffPost | 2024-05-03 11:07:27 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #upcoming book


The Week in Libraries: May 3, 2024

Advocacy efforts for federal library funding shift to the Senate, a librarian has joined the Democratic gubernatorial ticket in Utah, 'Library Journal' has named its 2024 class of Movers & Shakers, and more in this week's library news. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-05-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:


Rare Editions of Pushkin Are Vanishing From Libraries Around Europe

Dozens of books have disappeared from Warsaw to Paris. Police are looking into who is taking them, and why — a tale of money, geopolitics, crafty forgers and lackluster library security. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2024-05-01 09:01:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #libraries


On Politics: Eric Adams' library cuts would sever a vital lifeline

One of the great embarrassments of New York, the richest city in America, is how money can’t be found to keep public libraries open every single day.It is, truly, a matter of priorities. Other far-reaching, progressive policy proposals can come with enormous upfront costs — municipal or... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2024-04-29 15:50:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #physical spaces #working class #community centers #libraries #public libraries


PEN America Cancels 2024 World Voices Festival Amid Further Fallout

The cancellation of what would have been the 20th edition of the free speech organization's sprawling festival came just days after it axed the 2024 PEN America Literary Awards ceremony amid mass withdrawals of books from consideration and continued criticism. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:


How to Get Free Kindle Books With Your Library Card (2024)

All you need is an internet connection, a library card, and a good ebook reader to dive into your next page-turner. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2024-04-28 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #internet connection #library card #ebook reader #kindle


The Week in Libraries: April 26, 2024

Among the week's headlines: a deadline looms for federal library funding; the FCC votes to restore net neutrality rules; Maryland passes a law designed to discourage book bans; and why Alabama librarians are feeling exhausted. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #deadline looms


Book Banning County Commissioners Censor Honor for Girl Scout’s Banned Book Library

What begins as a story about a Girl Scout Honor being censored for being about a teen's banned books project is a story of commissioners complicit in book banning county-wide. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2024-04-24 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #banned book


World Book Day: EU to Exclude Book Industry from Late Payment Regulations

Publishers and booksellers worked together to secure an exemption from the EU's late payment legislation, a decision that protects the publishing's unique business model. The post World Book Day: EU to Exclude Book Industry from Late Payment Regulations appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-04-23 23:25:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #world book #book industry


An Oasis in the Desert: Why Libraries Are the Best Places to Write

It’s 2015. My partner and I are in Moab, Utah, for the summer, far from our home of Philadelphia. He is doing research for his dissertation. I am struggling to rewrite a novel that my editor says—and I agree—isn’t working. The desert landscape in southwest Utah is magnificent and to us wholly... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2024-04-19 08:53:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #libraries


The Next Generation of Booksellers Is Changing the (Bookselling) World

The bookstore proprietors of today are putting inclusivity first, building communities, and opening up shop in unexpected places. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #unexpected places #bookstore