All too often we think of libraries in terms of those glorious repositories of knowledge and reading that we see in our Western world. We perhaps take for granted the literature that is contained within them and the access that we have to it. Why not? some may ask; after all, this is all here for us. Sadly, there are many places in the world where the people are not so fortunate, where they may wish to have access to knowledge, learning, fact and fiction but for many reasons face restrictions. What this book does is show us not only how literacy and libraries are inextricably linked but also how global communities work to support their own literacy and library services. It is a book of case studies which look at the way in which more and more communities around the globe are seeing the potential that a library can offer and are working towards this in whatever way they can within the means at their disposal.
The book explores the evolution of libraries, the way in which they have been built to create and sustain a literate community around them and also the way in which they serve every member of their community. For each library, a case study is provided to give the reader a full context of the matters under consideration, and each library was sent the same questionnaire by the authors so that they would have a balanced view of the services offered. Around the world, each and every library offers something unique because of its own situation, and the authors balance the differing offerings of each service by ensuring that they are each studied within an appropriate context. Chapter 1, for example, considers a new library set-up in rural Uganda and looks at the way in which new libraries and existing ones have evolved. Chapter 2 takes a different theme, using a library in Australia and its reading promotions, and Chapter 3 moves to Finland to look at learning environments. Further chapters consider libraries in places as diverse as Malaysia, Indonesia and Sweden, as well as Brazil, Argentina and Kenya; thus, every continent of the world is considered. Mobile as well as static libraries in buildings are discussed with a fascinating insight into a Chinese mobile library.
What emerges is a picture of the strong need for libraries to work with their communities, not only to build a local community of literate users but also to contribute to the development of a global community of literate children and adults. By comparing the different ways in which libraries offer their services around the globe, there is much to be learnt about good practice and how a mission for global literacy can be supported. Illustrated with images from the libraries, this book offers a fascinating insight into libraries around the world, and highlights the way in which librarians and their services need to work together to integrate their identity into that of their community. It is important and perhaps groundbreaking in this respect for it is part of a global change and also highlights the extremely important role of the librarian in every community around our globe.
