Libraries and other cultural institutions play an important role in national development by providing access to knowledge and information. Networks of libraries can help bridge social, knowledge, and digital divides by ensuring universal access to information. UNESCO supports the development of knowledge societies through principles like freedom of expression, universal access to information, cultural and linguistic diversity, and quality education for all.

1. Libraries Networking for National
Development
.
National Library of Jamaica
23 November 2007
Isidro Fernandez-Aballi
Adviser on Communication and Information
for the Caribbean
UNESCO
i.fernandez-aballi@unesco.org

2. Divide World Knowledge
N Prosperity
Globalization
Inclusion
1. SOCIAL DIVIDE
2. KNOWLEDGE DIVIDE
3. DIGITAL DIVIDE
Ignorance
Poverty
Marginalization
S Exclusion

3. Digital World McLuhan Digital
Village
WORLD “A”
TE
WORLD “B”
14%
LÉ
INTERNET
FO
26%
NO
S
WORLD “C”
60%
Nada

4. Digital Libraries and Digital Repositories
CONSORTIUM
NETWORKS

5.  Over twenty-five years ago, a panel of First-World meteorologists
diagnosed global warming (Kolbert).
 The increase in average temperatures, causing major glaciers to
shrink and ocean levels to rise, is no longer a speculative model
positioned far in the future, but a fact of present-day reality

6. World Digital Memory : 93%

7. Denying or refusing to accept such bad news will
surely not fend off the consequences.
 In a world where
disaster hazards of all
kinds seem to loom
increasingly, we must
value and provide special
care for humankind’s
documentary heritage,
whether in letters,
images, or zeroes and
ones.

8. DIGITAL DEATH

9. UNESCO´s Mandate
“Promote the free flow of ideas by word and image”
“Maintain, increase and spread knowledge”
UNESCO: focus on content
Enhanced UNESCO’s relevance
in the information society

10. About Knowledge Societies
Knowledge Societies
Knowledge Knowledge Knowledge Knowledge
Creation Preservation Dissemination Utilization
Pluralism
Education
Human Needs and Rights

11. About Knowledge Societies
KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY BASIC PRINCIPLES
1. Freedom of expression
2. Universal access to information and
knowledge
3. Cultural and linguistic diversity, and
4. Quality education for all

12. Principles of Knowledge Societies
 Freedom of Expression
Respect for Article 19 of UDHR, freedom of
the press, freedom of speech on the Internet
 Universal access to information and
knowledge Infrastructure and connectivity;
affordability; information literacy; know-how
for use and development; education; free
flow of information; public domain

13. Principles of Knowledge Societies
 Cultural and linguistic diversity
Understanding and respect for other
cultures; plurality and diversity of content
and languages; importance of locally
relevant content
 Quality education for all
Access to education as a fundamental
right; education as a tool for combating
illiteracy, marginalization, poverty and
exclusion

14. Building Knowledge Societies
Mandate and functions of
UNESCO’s
Living information
IFAP Information for All
Programme

15. IFAP and Knowledge Societies
Mandate and functions
Information for All Programme (IFAP):
 Established in 2001
 Successor of General Information Programme
(PGI) & Intergovernmental Informatics
Proramme (IIP)
 Sister to Intergovernmental Programme for
the Development of Communication (IPDC)
 One of UNESCO’s 11 «intergovernmental
programmes»
 Uniqueness and influence of
intergovernmental nature integrated by 26
Member States
 Expert body
 Potential influence at national level using
local networks

16. IFAP and Knowledge Societies
IFAP exists to be an advocate for all
people on the wrong side of the
information divide, whether they be
in developed or developing
countries. Of special concern are the
needs of women, youth and the
elderly, as well as persons with
disabilities.

17. Administrative Structure
 Intergovernmental Council
 Function: guidance its planning
and implementation
 Twenty-six Member States of
UNESCO, elected by General
Conference
 Bi-annual meetings
 Bureau (1 President, 3 Vice-presidents, 3
Members, 1 Rapporteur)
 Secretariat
 UNESCO, Information Society Division

18. Member States elected from 34st to end of Member States elected from 33rd to end of
36nd session of the General Conference 35th session of the General Conference
(2007-2011): (2005-2009):
Austria
France
Israel Canada
Germany
Brazil
Czech Republic
Grenada Hungary
Venezuela Poland
DPR Korea Jamaica
China
Indonesia Malaysia
Thailand Congo
Viet Nam Ethiopia
United Republic of Tanzania
Kenya Egypt
Nigeria Sudan
Côte D’Ivoire
Libya

19. IFAP objectives
 promote international reflection and debate on the ethical, legal and societal
challenges of the information society;
 promote and widen access to information in the public domain through the
organization, digitization and preservation of information;
 support training, continuing education and lifelong learning in the fields of
communication, information and informatics;
 support the production of local content and foster the availability of indigenous
knowledge through basic literacy and ICT literacy training;
 promote the use of international standards and best practices in communication,
information and informatics in UNESCO's fields of competence; and
 promote information and knowledge networking at local, national, regional and
international levels.

20. IFAP Methods & Tools
 Establishing a framework for international co-
operation and partnerships
 Facilitating reflection and debate (Think tank
function, upstream work)
 Developing standards, methods and tools
Creation IFAP National Committees
 Promoting networks
 Acting as a Clearing House
 Initiating pilot projects

21. IFAP Actions
 Support production of local content
 Foster availability of indigenous knowledge
through basic literacy and information literacy
training;
 Promote use of international standards and
best practices in communication, information
and informatics
 Promote information and knowledge
networking at all levels

22. IFAP Areas of Action
Area 1: Area 4:
Developing international, Developing information
regional and national processing and management tools and
information policies systems
Area 2:
Developing human resources Area 5:
and capabilities for the Information technology for education,
information age science, culture and communication
Area 3:
Strengthening institutions as
gateways for information
access

23. www.unesco.org/webworld/ifap

25. CI OFFICES IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

26. BUILDING THE KNOWLEDGE AND
INFORMATION SOCIETY
IN THE CARIBBEAN DIVISION FOR
COMMUNICATION &
INFORMATION
UNESCO OFFICE FOR
THE CARIBBEAN

27. Four Main Line of Action
1. Promoting an enabling environment for freedom of
expression and freedom of information
2. Fostering universal access to information and the
development of infostructures
3. Promoting the development of free, independent and
pluralistic media and community participation in
sustainable development through community media
4. Strengthening the role of communication and
information in fostering mutual understanding, peace
and reconciliation, particularly in open and post-conflict
areas Information Literacy

28. Promoting an enabling environment for freedom of
expression and freedom of information
 WPFD 2008 Launching of Caribbean Media
Summit on the " Caribbean Single Market and
Economy (CSME)"
 WPFD 2009 Caribbean Media Summit:
"Toward Harmonising Freedom of the Press
and Broadcasting Legislation in the Caribbean"

29. Fostering universal access to information and the development
of infostructures
 Strategic alliance with ECLAC and ITU to follow up WSIS Action Plan,
prepared by ECLAC, ELAC 2010 and strengthen INFOLAC participation in
the process.
 Identification, preservation and access of Latin American and the
Caribbean heritage collections in the framework of MOW programme.
 Promoting Caribbean information, preservation and access initiatives
(Caribbean Digital Library Initiative, Caribbean e-Librarian Iniitiative and
Caribbean IFAP National Committees)
 Production and distribution of INFOLAC's quarterly journal (volumes 21
and 22 ) and INFOLAC/MOWLAC website (http://infolac.ucol.mx)

30. Promoting the development of free, independent and pluralistic media and
community participation in sustainable development through community
media
 Strengthening of the Caribbean Network of Media/ Information Literacy
Clubs Strengthening of the Caribbean Internet Radio Portal (CIRP)
 Strengthening of the Caribbean Network of Young Journalists dealing with
specific sustainable development areas.
 Promoting values of free, independent and pluralistic media and
community participation for development among Latin America and the
Caribbean young people by improving Caribbean participation in the Youth
Portals (www.joveneslac.org and www.youthlac.org)
 Promoting the adaptation of Model Journalism Curricula in Caribbean
institutions.

31. Strengthening the role of communication and information in fostering
mutual understanding, peace and reconciliation, particularly in open and
post-conflict areas
 Behaviour Change Communication for Crime Mitigation
through Community Mulitmedia Centres.
 Promoting Preservation of Caribbean Indigenous and
Endangered Languages
 Support to set up information literacy clubs in schools and
facilitate the participation of students from Jamaica in the
Caribbean Network of Information Literacy Clubs
 Creation of the Caribbean Internet Radio Portal (CIRP) with
ROOTS FM and Container Project in Jamaica playing lead roles;

32. SOME ON-GOING PROJECTS IN
JAMAICA

33. Prison Radio Network
 Setting up of to facilitate prisoner rehabilitation and promote reintegration
into society in partnership with the Department of Correctional Services
(Ministry of Security). This is being done for the First time in the Caribbean.
Results when completed:
 200 Inmates and officers trained in broadcasting and communications and
related multimedia skills;
 Improved morale, as a significant part of the inmate population will be engaged
on a daily basis in something meaningful and positive;
 DCS monthly newspaper established and articles produced and published;
 A Guide on the use of mass media for rehabilitation in correctional facilities of
the Caribbean;
 Training manual (CD or on Internet) on community broadcasting, tailored to
penal communities; This manual can be used to share the experiences with
other institutions within and outside Jamaica; local content developed (radio
programmes and digital stories)

34. National Workshop on ICT in
Education Toolkit
 In collaboration with the Ministries of
Education and Technology; This will be
linked to the EduVision 2007, 3rd
International Conference on Teacher
Education and Technology, December 4-7
2007;

35. Strengthen of the Caribbean Indigenous
and Endangered Language Website
 in collaboration with the Jamaica language Unit of the
University of the West Indies;
 Authoritative documentation of 28 indigenous and
endangered languages;
 Increased awareness of and importance of preserving
Caribbean indigenous languages;
 Over 30 Caribbean indigenous communities benefiting
from access to information on other indigenous languages;
Website: Caribbean Indigenous Languages

36. Strengthening of networking among media professionals through the
development of an online Caribbean Media and Communication Resource
Centre (CARIMAC.COM).
 An online resource centre and clearing house for owners, managers
and practitioners in the Caribbean media and communication industry.
 Development of a comprehensive Caribbean Media Directory (CMD)
 The online resource centre will include: an online trade journal;
searchable, dynamic database of media and communication
companies; training modules (in audio, video and print formats); online
access to CARIMAC research and instructional materials; a repository of
relevant research papers and policy documents, including conference
papers, reports and industry presentations, codes of conduct, relevant
legislation

37. Examples of some results achieved
4 Caribbean
inscriptions on
the International
Memory of the DEREK WALCOTT
ERIC WILLIAMS
World (MOW)
Register Barbados - Documentary
Heritage of Enslaved
Peoples of the Caribbean
CLR JAMES

39. 1. Book in print in
 English and
Spanish

40. 1. MITIGATING DISASTER.
A Strategic Guide to Risk
Management in
Heritage Collections.
• Book and CD Rom in
English and Spanish