The Information Professional
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Librarians and Archivists in a fast-changing digital lanscape
Curated by Karen du Toit
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We Think, YouTube animation based on book by Charles Leadbeater

A new book by Charles Leadbeater, 'We Think' explores the potential of the latest developments of the internet...

 

> The Internet as enabler of mass innovation!

 

"We Think explores how the web is changing our world, creating a culture in which more people than ever can participate, share and collaborate, ideas and information.

Ideas take life when they are shared. That is why the web is such a potent platform for creativity and innovation.

It's also at the heart of why the web should be good for : democracy, by giving more people a voice and the ability to organise themselves; freedom, by giving more people the opportunity to be creative and equality, by allowing knowledge to be set free.

But sharing also brings with it dilemmas.

It leaves us more open to abuse and invasions of privacy.

Participation is not always a good thing: it can just create a cacophony.

Collaboration is sustained and reliable only under conditions which allow for self organisation.

Everywhere we turn there will be struggles between people who want to freely share - music, films, ideas, information - and those who want to control this activity, either corporations who want to make money or governments who fear debate and democracy. This conflict between the rising surge of mass collaboration and attempts to retain top down control will be one of the defining battles of our time, from Communist China, to Microsoft's battle with open source and the music industry's desperate rearguard action against the web."

 

First 3 chapters here (for free): http://www.wethinkthebook.net/home.aspx

 


Via Ana Cristina Pratas
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Report: How Public Libraries Contribute Towards Reaching the Millennium Development Goals « Beyond Access

Report: How Public Libraries Contribute Towards Reaching the Millennium Development Goals « Beyond Access | The Information Professional | Scoop.it
How Public Libraries Contribute Towards Reaching the Millennium Development Goals - Beyond Access: Libraries... http://t.co/EJZi82Wxgv

 

Beyond Access is excited to announce the release of a new report showing how libraries are helping to reach the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs). Featuring stories from different libraries around the world, the report emphasizes the role that libraries are taking in helping to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

List of examples from Guatemala, Zambia, Kenya, etc.

 

Free copy here: http://www.beyondaccess.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Beyond-Access-Libraries-MDGs-Small.pdf

 

Karen du Toit's insight:

Report shows libraries are helping to reach Millennium Development Goals!

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Africa must use digital libraries

Africa must use digital libraries | The Information Professional | Scoop.it

Manka S Angwafo:

Making educational resources freely available will fast-track the continent's development.

 

Of more than 2 000 open access repositories worldwide, fewer than 3% are in Africa. And there are even fewer exclusively from sub-Saharan Africa.

Even though the availability of open access material is low, it is important to recognise the progress that has been made over the past decade: several institutions across the region have adopted and are implementing open access policies. However, in spite of these strides, only about 16% of African scholars claim to have a high awareness of e-resources. Much more advocacy is necessary for open access to become a reality across the continent.

Africa stands to gain the most from the open access movement. But factors such as the continent's regulatory environments, the changing role of librarians, weak commitment to institutionalising open access and problems of sustainability have made implementation slow and awareness limited.

 

 

Karen du Toit's insight:

"Data skills & open access needed in Africa!"

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Stamping out poverty as well as books? How libraries can support development

Stamping out poverty as well as books? How libraries can support development | The Information Professional | Scoop.it

Stuart Hamilton:

"With 230,000 libraries in developing countries, these institutions can be the difference between users simply accessing information or being able to use it."

Karen du Toit's insight:

Libraries can power global development!

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