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

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Libraries Reopen in COVID-19 Hot Spots: Are Library Staff Being Protected?

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[ Book Riot | 2020-08-18 10:35:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-07-31 04:00:00 UTC ]
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With the August recess looming and a second round of coronavirus relief in the works, $2 billion in funding for libraries hangs in the balance. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-07-17 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Tales of a Library Unicorn: In Which the Children Misunderstand Libraries

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[ Book Riot | 2020-03-25 10:33:21 UTC ]
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Libraries Connected calls for 'clear decision' from government on library closures

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[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-18 08:33:36 UTC ]
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[ Book Riot | 2020-02-26 11:38:35 UTC ]
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State Library Victoria proves libraries aren't just about books: they're about community

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[ The Conversation | 2019-12-08 18:49:50 UTC ]
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[ Book Riot | 2019-11-01 10:32:08 UTC ]
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For the Love of Libraries: Four Authors on What Makes Libraries Wonderful

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[ Writer's Digest | 2019-09-23 15:22:30 UTC ]
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School & Library Spotlight Fall 2019: School Library Advocacy Close-up

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-08-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Book Riot | 2019-08-12 10:34:07 UTC ]
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[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-06-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Folio Magazine | 2019-03-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Digiday | 2018-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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