Public Library Innovation
Programme, Monika Elbert
EIFL General Assembly, November 2014
Public Library
Innovation Programme
Advancing community
development
www.eifl.net/plip
Perceptions of public
libraries…
EIFL-PLIP context
• Technology offers public libraries new
opportunities to increase access to knowledge,
helping to improve standards of living and
transform lives.
• Yet, in most countries where the need is greatest,
public libraries are under-resourced.
• EIFL-PLIP supports public libraries to use
technology creatively to develop innovative
services to meet the needs of their communities
Development areas
• Agriculture
• Digital Inclusion
• Education
• Employment
• Health
• Women and Girls
• Health
• Education
EIFL-PLIP since 2009
• 49 projects in 27 countries in Asia, Africa,
Europe and Latin America
• 12,000+ hard to reach people benefited from
EIFL-PLIP services, 9,000+ acquired ICT’s skills
• PLIP libraries attracted more than 1,2 million
USD additional funds for community
development
2014 global achievements
• Global call for proposals focused on the
future generation: children and youth:
10 winners were selected from 273
applications
• Innovation Awards 7 (Public Libraries
Contributing to Education): 63
applications received, winners will be
announced in December, 2014
2014 national achievements
• Comprehensive training initiatives
launched in Ghana, Kenya, Uganda
• National level, includes representatives
from ALL public libraries that have
computers and the Internet
• 4 training modules
2015 national plans
• Implement training initiatives in Ghana,
Kenya, Uganda
• Launch programmes in Ethiopia and
most probably Tanzania (following the
perception study)
• Organize awareness raising meetings in
the Balkans: Macedonia, Serbia,
Croatia
2015 global plans
• Continuation of
Innovation Awards
• Fundraising to
expand activities to
more countries
How can you
be involved?
• Sharing information about calls
• Disseminating impact results
• Integrating public libraries in
consortium access to e-resources
• Joining forces with public
librarians in advocacy efforts
• Cooperating in various projects
• What else? Remember: public
libraries are a place for YOUR
students.
EIFL-PLIP team
Monika, Rosora
Rima, Rome
Jean, London
Edvaldas, Vilnius
Ugnė, Santiago
Ramunė, Vilnius
PLIP Representatives at GA
• Svetlana Spruza – Latvia
Valmiera Public Library’s ‘Read and get followers’
• Kristian Benic – Croatia
Rijeka City Library’s 3D Printing Incubator for
Children and Youth
• Przemyslaw Hawel – Poland
Piekari Slaskie Public Library’s Programming of
Curiosity
• Mary Kinyanjui – Kenya
Kibera Public Library’s ICT for Youth Development
project
