|
|
|
The development of information technologies, and in particular the Internet, has created a completely new environment in which the role of traditional information services must be thoroughly revised. The potential of networking, cooperation and digitisation modify substantially the functions of acquiring, storing and disseminating information and knowledge. Here, special attention must be paid to the least developed countries so that they do not lag behind technological advances.
More
 | Visit UNESCO Libraries Portal, which provides a single interactive access to information for librarians and library users.
It currently contains over 14000 links to websites of libraries around the world, as well as to resources related to training, preservation and international co-operation in this area. | |
| Building Libraries' Capacity |
Having traditionally supported the strengthening of the institutional capacity of libraries as gateways to information, UNESCO continues to assist them to acquire appropriate technologies and network resources. Training programmes are being developed with specially-designed training materials to meet the needs of library staff. The UNESCO Network of Associated Libraries (UNAL) grouping 450 members in 90 countries is supported to play an enhanced role in this context.
| UNESCO Network of Associated Libraries (UNAL)
UNAL is a network of public and community libraries. It aims at encouraging the libraries to conduct information dissemination at grass-roots level, making appropriate use of ICT.
UNAL was established in 1990 to promote co-operation among public libraries to build international understanding and to establish contacts between libraries of the North and of the South.
UNAL's principal objective is to encourage libraries that are open to the public to undertake activities in UNESCO’s fields such as the promotion of human rights and peace, cultural dialogue, protection of the environment, fight against illiteracy, etc. Over 500 libraries around the world are members of the Network.
Websites of members | |
An essential element of the strategy is the integration of libraries into information, media and information literacy programmes. Libraries provide resources and services in an environment that fosters free and open inquiry and serve as a catalyst for the interpretation, integration, and application of knowledge in all fields of learning.
Building the capacity of libraries requires a continuous process of improving the knowledge and skills of the professionals who work within them, as well as widening the general knowledge and awareness of users. It is essential that information specialists have access to training, continuing education and lifelong learning.
UNESCO Activities- Lebanese Librarians Trained in Use of UNESCO Library Software
Some 20 public libraries from all governorates of Lebanon recently received copies of the UNESCO’s WINISIS software and their staff was trained in its use during a two-day workshop at the UNESCO Office in Beirut.
- Course on Building Digital Libraries in Fortaleza, Brazil
Training in methodologies for planning digital libraries and the use of free software for their creation was provided from 21 to 25 February 2005 during a workshop organized by UNESCO, the Federal University of Ceará, Brazil, and the Centre for Training and Development (CETREDE) in Fortaleza.
- Sharing Good Practices in Information Access Through Libraries in Kazakhstan
A two-day UNESCO training course on establishing and strengthening information centres in school libraries in oblasts in the Southern part of Kazakhstan took place in Almaty.
- Report: CDS/ISIS Training in Laos and Myanmar Librarians organized by U.S. Embassy
The U.S. Embassy, Vientiane, in cooperation with the National Library of Laos, organized a week-long workshop in CDS/ISIS in November 2004. The Yangon American Center organised a four days training session in Yangon (Myanmar), also in November 2004.
- Popularity of UNESCO’s WINISIS Software Grows in Zambia
Many of the more than 500 librarians, records officers and IT managers in Zambia who use WINISIS, UNESCO’s information storage and retrieval software, were trained in 2004 thanks to the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) and the Technological Development Advisory Unity (TDAU), a department of the University of Zambia.
| Information Processing Tools- CDS/ISIS Database Software
Micro CDS/ISIS is an advanced non-numerical information storage and retrieval software developed by UNESCO since 1985 to satisfy the need expressed by many institutions, especially in developing countries, to be able to streamline their information processing activities by using modern (and relatively inexpensive) technologies.
WINISIS is the Windows version of CDS/ISIS, software that provides facilities for storing documents electronically and for advanced information retrieval. CDS/ISIS is used worldwide for managing databases in libraries and information centres.
- Greenstone Digital Library Software
Greenstone is a suite of software for building and distributing digital library collections. It provides a new way of organizing information and publishing it on the Internet or on CD-ROM. Greenstone is produced by the New Zealand Digital Library project at the University of Waikato, and distributed in cooperation with UNESCO and the Humanity Libraries Project. It is open-source software, available under the terms of the GNU General Public License.
| |
| Preserving Library Collections |
The world’s documentary heritage constitutes a major part of mankind’s memory and reflects the diversity of peoples, languages and cultures. A major part of this heritage is stored in libraries. Through the Memory of the World Programme and other initiatives such as the Digital Silk Road Project, UNESCO has played a leading role in preserving information and communication contents and in optimizing access to them.
In particular, UNESCO encouraged the elaboration of strategies to facilitate the digitization of librarian collections; it also promoted and disseminated the International Charter for the Preservation of Digital Heritage adopted at the 32nd session of the General Conference of UNESCO in October 2003. >>
More
UNESCO Activities- UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme
UNESCO has launched this Programme to guard against collective amnesia calling upon the preservation of the valuable archive holdings and library collections all over the world ensuring their wide dissemination.
- E-Heritage
More and more of the world's cultural and educational resources are being produced, distributed and accessed in digital form rather than on paper.
- Assisting Libraries in Tsunami Affected Countries
UNESCO has offered support to the countries devastated by the earthquake off the coast of Sumatra and the ensuing tsunami in December 2004. As part of its assistance to Tsunami struck Asia, UNESCO has assessed the situation of libraries, archives and other information institutions in the region. UNESCO's Intergovernmental Council for the Information for All Programme has earmaked an amoun of $100,000 to help libraries in the region.
- Floods in Europe: Damages to libraries and archives
Invaluable cultural heritage was damaged and destroyed by the floods in Europe. This includes the collections of many libraries and archives. Further to UNESCO's call on the international community to help safeguarding this heritage, this website intends to be a clearing house for information on the damages in libraries and archives in the region and on actions taken for disaster recovery.
- Rebuilding the Bibliotheca Alexandrina
At the meeting point of the three continents, Asia, Africa and Europe, Egypt has been the cradle of civilizations since ancient times. The ancient city of Alexandria, one of the glories of antiquity, was at the beginning of the third century B.C. the birthplace of the great plan to build a library: the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. But the library, this vast storehouse of learning, was destroyed by a fire which ravaged Alexandria. The Egyptian Government, in close co-operation with UNESCO, decided to build a new library in Alexandria to endow this part of the world with an important focal point for culture, education and science.
