The eifl public library innovation programme (plip) enhances ICT skills in public libraries across 23 developing countries, enabling them to address community needs in health, agriculture, economic development, and education. In its first year, plip libraries trained over 9,000 people in e-literacy and created innovative services to connect underserved communities with vital resources. This initiative demonstrates the critical role that public libraries play in turning information into skills and opportunities for development.

1. EIFL-PLIP builds
community ICT skills
in 23 developing and
transition countries
WSIS Project Prize 2013
Winner of Category C4
“Capacity building”

2. Public
libraries
exist
everywhere, in
almost every country.
There are more than
230,000 public libraries
in developing and transition
countries.
Libraries are specifically
designed to turn information
into skills and opportunities

3. Perceptions of public
libraries…

4. Connecting to information
is critical for development
It
connects
youth to
innovativ
It helps
women
access
new
It
allows
citizens to
stay

5. EIFL Public Library Innovation
Programme (PLIP)
• Was launched to explore and demonstrate how ICT-enabled public
libraries can address community information needs.
• Provided small grants to 39 public and community libraries in 23
countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America to introduce
innovative services in the areas of:
– health;
– agriculture;
– economic development;
– education; and
– reaching out to disadvantaged and vulnerable members of the
community.

6. Our grants enabled libraries:
•To acquire technology;
•To build the capacity of librarians and community
members to use technology;
•To buy up-to-date print and electronic resources;
•To create content in local languages of interest to the
community; and
•To build partnerships with experts (health, agriculture,
etc).
All these elements enabled libraries to develop innovative
services that meet community needs.
EIFL Public Library Innovation
Programme (PLIP)

7. In just 1 year,
our PLIP libraries
helped over
9000 people build
their e-literacy skills.

8. They offered training in
the library…

9. They travelled with
laptops to locations
where farmers live…

10. They travelled with mobile
libraries equipped with
technology to schools…

11. They connected village
communities to doctors…

12. They connected youth to
job and education
opportunities…

13. The potential of public
libraries…

14. EIFL(Electronic Information for Libraries)
is a not for profit organisation
working with libraries in
developing and transition
countries to bring
access to knowledge.
www.eifl.net