I just discovered this 2002 press release about a report from the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. It may be old, but I had to write about it. I ove this story because it is another example of innovative library services using pack animals (in an earlier blog post, I wrote about the Book Women of Eastern Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project) AND because of the multi-media aspect of it! These Donkey Drawn Libraries are providing library services in remote communities in Zimbabwe, but they are also delivering technology powered by a solar unit installed on the roof.
Each cart is provided with a solar unit installed on the roof; a battery charged by this solar energy supplies the electric power. Audio-visual apparatus is installed in a cabinet at the back of the cart and electronic data equipment and storage facilities for battery, inverter, distilled water (for the batteries), books, music disks and records, video cassettes, etc. are installed on cabinets at both sides of the cart. The unit can also be provided with an aerial or a satellite dish.But I also love this story because it reminds us that everyone values and deserves access to libraries, books, knowledge and information. And, while we should continue to fight for more resources for libraries, we should also remind ourselves that we humans (especially librarians!) are a creative lot and will continue to find creative ways to continue providing quality library services.
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1 comment:
Hi Taylor,
it is finally your entry about the donkey driven libraries in
Zimbabwe which makes me want to send you a greeting from Finland. I also
love this story. In addition to what you say, it is a good example of
"intermediate technology" (E.F.Schumacher).
How did I find your blog? Well, I was writing a comment to a comment in my
blog (Spinelli's Footsteps), whereby I had to check some facts about the
so called Second Superpower. On that little fact finding mission I then
stumbled on an "excerpt from a proposal on how 2.0 technology could be
applied to deliberative forums... was developed as part of an American
Library Association Workshop on Library 2.0 in May 2006". You know the
rest.
Still about solar energy, have you noticed DESERTEC and the (mainly)
German plans to construct a gigantic solar power station in the Sahara to
cover some 10-20 percent of the electricity need of Europe?
An important new press release from the project is expected tomorrow, 13
July (www.desertec.org).
DESERTEC could perhaps be a step towards a sustainable development, if
investments of the same magnitude were made as if people and animals
mattered, and if it were not for KASOTC.
DESERTEC stands for the sustainable, KASOTC for the military development.
Unfortunately, all human development is still dominated by the military
paradigm.
Highly centralized electricity production may not be social desirable,
even if it is ecologically sustainable and the energy source is renewable
(and not producing cesium, strontium, plutonium etc. as byproducts). But,
living in a cold region (Finland) with long and dark winters, I must admit
that DESERTEC sounds like a promising proposal.
Thank you also for the link to readings about those women librarians on
pack horses, who delivered services to the inhabitants of remote rural
areas of Kentucky in the period of the New Deal. The link you give is
actually dead, but the material can be retrieved via the Internet Archive.
There, in the Internet Archive, I stumble upon another exciting item.
namely, Dr David Ray Griffin's lecture on video, based on his book "The
9/11 Commission Report. Omissions and Distortions". It is up on the front
page today (http://www.archive.org/index.php), as the curator's choice.
In sum:
The Sustainable Development Paradigm (DESERTEC)
The military paradigm (KASOTC)
and
The Library Paradigm (see http://libraryjuicepress.com/blog/?page_id=4)
All the best. Keep up the good work. And keep in touch!
- Mikael
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