Presentation given by Jelena Rajic, librarian at the Public Library Radislav Nikcevic in Jagodina, Serbia at the WSIS Forum 2013 on the winning project of WSIS Project Prizes 2013 in the category C3. Access to information and knowledge: AgroLib Ja (Agricultural Libraries in Jagodina) (Public Library Radislav Nikcevic, Republic of Serbia)
2. There is a network of around 230,000
libraries in the world. Almost all
countries around the world have a
network of libraries, even in the most
remote areas. The mission of libraries
is to provide their users with
information for life-long learning and
to participate in informal education.
When creating strategies for ICT
education of rural residents,
governments often overlook the fact
that libraries could be of great
assistance.
3. Libraries more and more often attract attention with innovative
projects that include ICT education and its use. With the
project from Serbia-Agricultural Libraries In Jagodina,
awarded by the World Summit of Information Society 2013,
we want all governments and funders to focus their attention
on the role of libraries in their mission to provide access to
information and knowledge.
4. Map of Jagodina town
and villages.
During the 70s and the 80s all bigger
villages in the municipality of
Jagodina, Serbia had village
libraries. At that time library
services were traditional and users
were students and literature fans.
During the 90s libraries were
neglected due to economic and
political crisis.
5. Rural library in
Glogovac was in
poor condition
In 2008 Public Library Radislav Nikcevic
in Jagodina conducted a survey on the
condition of rural libraries in the
municipality and needs of the
agricultural population. The results
showed that rural libraries were in poor
condition, the book funds were outdated
and inadequate. Predominantly rural
residents could not use computers and did
not understand the benefits of using ICT
technologies.
6. On the other hand, Serbian government and institutions in
Serbia transferred to the electronic notification system.
Vacancies on subsidies and incentives for farmers are
published on the website of the Government of the Republic
of Serbia and the Ministry of Agriculture. The state does not
have a clearly-defined strategy regarding ICT literacy of
rural population.
7. Public library in Jagodina town is fully
developed.
Having realized the problems in
Jagodina’s rural libraries and problems
of agricultural population in the
villages, it was concluded that the
modernized and revitalized rural
libraries could lead to changes in the
villages. The concept of a village
library that would be the information,
communication and cultural hub of
local communities was designed.
Rural library in Bunar village
was in poor condition
8. Website of the AgroLib-Ja
project
For the realization of big ideas
start-up capital is needed.
Therefore, Jagodina Public
Library searched for the
incentives for the idea. The
revitalization of rural
libraries project was named
AgroLib Ja (Agricultural
Libraries in Jagodina).
9. AgroLib-Ja project logo
Now to agricultural population in
five rural libraries the following
services are available :
1. Agricultural magazines and
literature
2. Internet access and ICT training
3. Lectures in the field of agriculture
4. Website www.agrolib.rs and
www.agrolib.rs/pijaca/ (AgroLib
market)
10. Apart from traditional library
services, village libraries
provide ICT training for
farmers. Farmers acquire
basic computer skills, learn
how to use social networks
and forums and how to search
useful information and to buy
and sell on the Internet.
All 5 libraries have access to the Internet and
computers. Using the Internet is free. ICT
training for farmers, organized in the village
libraries was also free.
11. Website AgroLib market
The goal of launching the online
marketplace
http://www.agrolib.rs/pijaca/ is to
gather all farmers in one place,
which facilitates communication
and exchange of experiences.
Also, advertising on the website
helps them find buyers for their
products. The ultimate goal is to
improve economic and social
status of farmers.
12. ICT trainings for beekeepers
from Bagrdan
In the beginning we faced great
opposition from farmers to ICT. When
we gained the trust and support from
beekeepers from Bagrdan, the attitude
of farmers towards new information
technologies started to change.
Farmers are now not only members of
rural libraries, but also of the town
library-Public library in Jagodina.
13. PublicLibr
ary
Radislav
Nikcevic
in
Jagodina
logo
During the realization of the project
AgroLib we interviewed users of
the project to hear their opinions
about the benefits of the project
and we made video stories. Also,
a local TV station followed the
development of the project. Here
is one of the videos about
Ljiljana Vulic from Staro
Laniste, who is engaged in mat –
weaving.
14.
15. Farmers in
rural
libraries
Libraries and the website became places for exchanging good
ideas and even for starting agribusiness. A lot of people are
telling us their stories about how the website or going to the
library helped them. There are a lot of stories we do not
know about. We suppose there is a great number of them
because the village libraries and the online marketplace
AgroLib are more and more visited.
16. To date
Over 900 farmers regularly use the AgroLib Ja services.
Over 150 farmers were trained to use the internet in three years - and 87% of
farmers say they are using the internet at the library to look for agricultural
information.
Over 1.000 farmers attended panel discussions and lectures .
The library launched the AgroLib Ja website - www.agrolib.rs, which in
2011 had over 30,000 visitors, in 2012 had over 60.000 visitors, and in 2013
there are for about 10% more visits to the site than at the same time, last
year.
Five village libraries were renovated and equipped and are now vital
community centres.
17. The idea of rural agricultural libraries in
Serbia was the inspiration for many
libraries in other countries. After a year,
Public Library Innovation Programme
supported financially three libraries that
adapted the idea of AgroLib to the needs
of their local communities. These are
Public libraries in Latvia, Lithuania and
FYROM. The goal is the same, enabling
access to information by using new
information technologies.
18. Library webinar series saves us
time and money, say farmers
Klintaine Public Library in Latvia
made a network of rural libraries. To
save costs of arriving at the seminars
and lectures, the library makes
webinars for farmers. Through
webinars, farmers gather in libraries
and are able to communicate with
some of the representatives of
government agencies and
agricultural experts, and in that way
they get first hand information.
.
19. LIBR-A Project Manager Rita
Bedulyte demonstrates the
library's website for farmers.
Pasvalys Marius Katiliskis Public
Library in Lithuania develops services
with so-called Smart phones, because
their farmers can already use
computers. On smart phones, farmers
connect to the Internet, they have
cameras and media players. Also, they
have a web portal for monitoring
informaiton about agriulture. This
library develops a website for helping
farmers communicate.
20. Library on Wheels - the
INFOBUS
Public Library Goce Delcev in
Macedonia copied the AgroLib project
completely, which is not surprising
given that the situation in their country
is alsmost identical to the one in
Serbia. The only difference is they do
not revitalize rural libraries, because
they have Infobus, and they inform
farmers through text messages about
trainings and on various types of
financing that are intended for them.
21. Libraries - information,
communication and
cultural centers of their
local communities
AgroLib project as well as projects by
other libraries which implement similar
ideas show that rural libraries should be
given a new role in modern
librarianship. They should become
educational, informational,
communication and cultural centers in
their local communities. Also, they can
be triggers for social and economic
changes in communities and beyond.
22. Farmers
after ICT
education
.
New information technologies, the use of social networks and
certain websites can be an important factor in education
and associating farmers. Rural libraries can be places that
encourage professional and ICT education of farmers.
23. Libraries are potential that
can help meet the
millennium development
goals, especially in the
developing and
transitioning countries.
We believe that libraries
power development.
