Exploring the role of technology in support of the ecosystem approach

_____________

Use of technology towards an equal, a reading, an informed

and a literate nation

Agenda

• Communication of information

• Literacy defined

• Access to information

• LIS Transformation Charter

• Ecosystem defined

• LIS Ecosystem

• Role of technology in libraries

Very High Human Development Index (HDI)

Medium Human Development Index (HDI)

http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2016/05/25/pupils-don-t-understand-what-they-read-study?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=socialnetwork

Mother-tongue language

LIS Transformation Charter

• Framework of principles and mechanisms for LIS to contribute to:• Elimination of illiteracy and inequality

• Promote information literacy

• Building a modern, efficient, equitable library and information (eco)system

• Building an informed and reading nation

Access to information

• Democratise information

• Distribute status, wealth & power

• Makes for better people, less dependent

• More efficient & effective (productive) workers

• More responsive & responsible citizens

• Less conflict & disturbances

• More developed country, economic growth, job creation

Technology providing access

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem#/media/File:Nitrogen_Cycle.jpg

Ecosystem defined

LIS Ecosystem(7 384)

School(5 310)

Public(366 + 1 386)

Thusong & IKS

University (210), TVET,

Research

National (2)

Special, Parliament,

Legal Deposit (112)

Ecosystem approach

“The ecological approach encourages us to think of South African LIS in such a way that where the flows

of resources diminish, for example to school libraries, we will recognise that because of our

interdependence, the weakness of one component has the potential to weaken other components.”

Crosscutting issues

• Reading & Information Literacy

• Education

• Niche areas: community empowerment, research & development, cultural heritage

• ICTs as a tool for networking, improving information and resource flows (incl. social media, mobile technologies)

Information literacy

• Research problem

• Methodology

• Collecting information

• Analysing, critically evaluating

• Represent

• Acknowledge resources

Technology in the ecosystem

• Connection between integration of library and information services, the diffusion of information technologies, improved literacy and information literacy levels, citizenship, and the evolution of social cohesion and employment levels in the economy as a whole

• Reading literacy, information literacy and information technologies within an integrated services system, could become the critical ingredients of economic growth and social development

Transformation challenges

• Limited spaces to access information

• Low number of school libraries and public libraries

• 3 libraries per million people

• Uneven distribution over provinces

• Neglect of indigenous literatures and languages and of indigenous knowledge systems

• Uneven access to ICTs

• Uneven quality of LIS across post-school education institutions

• Teacher education in colleges and universities to include modules in school librarianship and in children’s and youth literature

• Curriculum changes should be made in the library schools across the country to cater for the twenty-first century librarian

• Key function: All public, school & post-school LIS should have sufficient and dedicated bandwidth and computer capacity for management and service delivery

School Curriculum Objectives/OutcomesTo become an empowered digital citizen, with competency in various application software tools and the Internet.

To become an effective downloader of content, but also an uploader of media and a contributor to the world of knowledge.

To apply self-learning and to continuously grow in terms of using computer technology as a tool.

Digital citizenship (1)

Norms of appropriate, responsible behaviour with regard to technology use

• Digital access for all

• Digital consumers doing online business

• Digital communication

• Digital literacy for searching & processing information

• Digital etiquette

Digital citizenship (2)

• Digital law (plagiarism, illegal downloads, hacking, creating and spreading worms, viruses, Trojan Horses, sending spam, stealing identity)

• Digital rights & responsibilities (right to privacy, free speech)

• Digital health & wellness (safety, self-care, cyber-bullying)

• Digital security (virus protection, back-up’s)

http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/Nine_Elements.html

Key stakeholders

• Government (DAC, DBE, DHET, DST)

• Private sector

• Civil society organisations

• International aid agencies

• Citizens

• Librarians & Information professionals

Digital storytelling

Visually impaired

Digitise National Heritage

Free tools

Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) – Koha vs Commercial LMS

http://wiki.lib.sun.ac.za/index.php/OpenCampus/Library

Implementation Plan - Key Functions (39)• 23. Update LIS education and training.

• 27. All public, school & post-school LIS should have sufficient and dedicated bandwidth and computer capacity for management and service delivery.

• 28. Ensure current and future access to dedicated broad band connectivity in LIS of all types.

• 29. Enable the Thusong Service Centres to provide digital and open access to information and become IKS resource centres.

Internet ecosystem

http://ideate.co.za/cape-big-data-facility-the-

next-big-thing-in-cape-tech/

Big Data

“For South Africa to be competitive, it is important that it keeps up with the global trends in the

provision of modern LIS that exploit all the benefits of ICTs.

The LIS sector’s capacity to contribute to the nation’s ability to convert knowledge into innovations and

wealth will determine its value to the nation.”

Online fiction

Online information resources

Lifelong learning

In 2013, further research found that although children learnt about information technology at school, there was no policy or strategy for teaching e-literacy or media education.

http://www.eifl.net/eifl-in-action/app-library-develops-teenagers-critical-thinking-skills

Chicago Public Library Makerspace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbY_grImwTo

Thank you!

Ina SmithSciELO Planning ManagerAcademy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9710-3668 LIASA Exco Convener ICT Development (2014-2016)LIASA HELIG Chair (2014-2016)

Bibliography

Nkondo, M., Brown, A., Dick, A., Hart, G., Molawa, S., Nassimbeni, M., Seleti, Y. and Joe Teffo, L. (2014) The library and information services (LIS) transformation charter 7th draft. Available at: http://www.liasa-new.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2014-Final-Edited-Transformation-charter-DocumentTABEdit-2.pdf (Accessed: 30 May 2016).