Bibliomist – Global Libraries Ukraine

Planning Grant

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation selected the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) to research and plan for a public technology access program in Ukraine, providing computers and Internet access in  public libraries to improve socio-economic conditions throughout the country.

At the conclusion of the planning grant, IREX presented the foundation with a nationwide program implementation plan that included recommendations for increasing public Internet access throughout Ukraine, along with alternatives and potential challenges.

Project Activities

During 2008, IREX worked closely with the Ukrainian Library Association, governments at the national and local levels, and nongovernmental organizations to jointly design a plan that would bring the Internet to the millions of Ukrainians who currently lack public access to information technology. This year-long information gathering process focused on how to improve access to the Internet through public libraries, especially for the most underserved.  Activities included:

• Conducting a needs assessment in close partnership with the Ukrainian Library Association.  This process gathered basic information about the state of Ukraine’s public libraries, existing infrastructure and equipment, and the training and information needs of librarians and communities.

• Convening a National Vision Forum to bring together key stakeholders and decision-makers in defining a program mission and securing government involvement. Participants from library systems in other countries shared their experience with providing public Internet access, and helped identify areas of the greatest potential impact in Ukraine. 

• Establishing a National Steering Committee consisting of representatives from government, the library system, civil society, and the private sector to discuss the main challenges in providing public access to the Internet at libraries and to advise the project on how to generate the necessary government and community support to sustain this access over the long term.

• Coordinating with the US Embassy’s Library Electronic Access Project (LEAP) and the USAID-funded Internet Access and Training Program (IATP) to build on past efforts, exchange best practices, and identify areas for collaboration.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The foundation’s Global Libraries initiative is working to open a world of knowledge, information and communication, by helping public libraries provide free access to computers, the Internet, and training. Computers and the Internet connect people to crucial information that can improve health, education, and employment opportunities. The vast majority of the world’s population—more than 87 percent, or approximately 5.5 billion people—lack access to these powerful, modern tools. The foundation’s Global Libraries initiative works with select countries to provide free public access to information technology. Global Libraries is helping to transform public libraries into vital resources that can help improve the lives of millions of people.

Contact

For more information about Bibliomist - Global Libraries Ukraine, please email gl@irex.org.