Abstract
In the third millennium one of the main global challenges is to build a society where everyone can access and share information, enabling individuals and communities to achieve their full potential in promoting their development and improving their quality of life. This reinforces such everlasting philosophies of libraries as ‘from the cradle to the grave’, ‘playing informational and intellectual roles’, ‘supporting literacy’, ‘lifelong learning’, ‘social inclusion’, ‘community cohesion’, ‘social justice’, and so forth (Aqili and Isfandyari-Moghaddam, 2008). That is why, as social, cultural, economic and political institutions, libraries are evolving and they respond organically to the various contexts within their communities. Yet, the new informational as well as knowledge-based environment fueled by the digital revolution causes emerging and uninterrupted changes. Moreover, libraries in urban areas of western countries (and in most countries) are also facing new challenges propelled by dramatic rises in the cultural and linguistic diversity of their communities, the rapid absorption of digital technologies for information and communication into everyday life, and a sharpened awareness of myriad social justice issues brought on by global migration and confronted histories of marginalization (p. xv).
In this line, providing an overview of the changing roles of libraries since their inception and looking more closely at the contexts shaping libraries around the world today, the book Linking Literacy and Libraries in Global Communities is aimed at people interested in global perspectives on libraries, especially how small libraries in the developing world and in marginalized communities throughout the world are playing an important role in shaping the programs and services of today’s libraries. In the form of nine chapters, the book is both an examination and an exploration of the evolution of contemporary libraries, particularly of their mandates of building and sustaining literate communities, and supporting the learning needs and interests of all members of their communities. Chapter 1, ‘Libraries as forces for literacy and learning’, is a visit to a rural community library (Kabubbu) in Uganda. In addition to introducing the library in terms of some features like location, staffing and library facilities, collections, library and literacy activities, accomplishments, and future goals, it shows how libraries in developing countries are working to forge reading, literacy, learning, and continuous development of knowledge and skills needed for the third millennium.
Underscoring that ‘after the initial stages in setting up a library facility, librarians focus on two major program areas: (a) developing a culture for reading where youth and adults engage in positive reading activities; and (b) supporting the literacy/learning needs of all users’ (p. 23), Chapters 2 to 5 (namely ‘Building a culture for reading through libraries’, ‘Supporting learning and literacy through libraries’, ‘Libraries as learning commons’, and ‘The library as community learning center’) deal totally with these two areas. As evidence, Philomena Heaton School Library (Australia), Ymmersta School Library (Finland), Taman Rakan Primary School Library (Malaysia), Kinango Community Library (Kenya), Popular Mariano Moreno Library (Argentina), and Community and School Library (Brazil) are visited as well as examined to demonstrate how libraries as active leaders can play vital undeniable role(s) in making 21st-century persons active readers and active learners who are informed global citizens capable of utilizing knowledge and wisdom in their personal, organizational, and social lives.
Chapter 6, ‘Libraries as agents of social change’, is grounded in the belief that libraries and librarians are acting as agents of social change. In this respect, the Kuugin King Naay Library (Canada) is explored. Chapter 7, ‘Mobile libraries as effective solutions to reading access and reading promotion in remote communities’, is based on the philosophy ‘libraries for all’ under which library services should be brought to everyone in every place - even remote communities. The Joy of Reading Mobile Library (China) and some other mobile library projects from Kenya, Columbia, Venezuela, Peru, Thailand, and Azerbaijan are showcased here to emphasize that librarians are eagerly working to improve the literacy and lives of their communities. Chapter 8, ‘Effective practices in reading promotion and literacy development’, draws out the most effective programs and activities examined in Chapters 1 to 7 with an emphasis on the teaching role of librarians. In fact, this chapter reminds librarians that there are several ways of spreading their supportive umbrella.
And finally, Chapter 9, ‘An ecological framework for ongoing community library development’, as a conclusion, firstly depicts the current state of the world from an information-centric perspective. Then, quoting the most recent IFLA Multicultural Library Manifesto viz., ‘Each individual in our global society has the right to a full range of library and information services …’ (p. 130), it emphasizes that libraries and librarians must work to be in effect considered as an integral part of their community. As a step towards realizing such a mission, it proposes an ecological framework useful for libraries in charting their ongoing development. This framework consists of the interrelated and interdependent components of context/environment, equity/social justice, partnerships/interactions and action/research. A list of references and an index are included at the end of the book.
Altogether, reading this work is similar to a journey to some of the libraries located in six continents; a journey that brings us theory, practice, and experience. The book both epitomizes the direction that today’s libraries should be moving in and underlines that libraries and information professionals must be viewed as major players in bringing social, educational, cultural, economic improvements in today’s lives. In a world of multiple literacies, Asselin and Doiron’s effort to wholeheartedly believe that ‘libraries connect people, resources, community values, education, culture, and literacy for the improvement and uplifting of the quality of lives of people including the fostering of peace and spiritual welfare through the minds of men and women’ (p. 137) should be very much appreciated.