IATP Monitoring and Evaluation Report - IREX

E. IATP Centers and
Libraries
The collaborative partnership between IREX and libraries
has always been a natural fit. IATP and public
libraries share the same basic goal—to provide society
with access to information and resources—and they
share the same principle—that access be free and
available to all. In fact, most new IATP centers were
initially partnered with local libraries, in a mutually
beneficial relationship that has been a boon to the
whole community.
As government funds dried up, library collections and
services suffered. Therefore one of the most important
goals of IREX’s Internet Access and Training Program
was to revitalize these natural information hubs
in communities, bringing them and thereby the whole
community into the information and technology age.
IATP trained library staff across Eurasia in computer
technology and then helped them design more efficient,
effective library services. E-catalogues replaced
card catalogues and free, often rare internet
access enhanced library resources to make public libraries
once again a vital space for exploring the
world of knowledge.
Librarian and IATP user from Chisinau, Moldova,
Nelea Gitu, easily made the connection, “We need
the knowledge that we receive [through IATP training]
so we can improve the performance of our library.”
53 Her colleague, Irina Scorpan, added,
“Computer skills are important because it improves
the quality of our work, and makes it easier to serve
the students that come to the library.” 54 IATP user
and Director of the Central Library in Shirvan, Azerbaijan,
Iltifat Nabiev, noted, “The employees of our
library are training at the center and have already
learned a lot. The training enables them to broaden
their outlook and increase their capacity. The number
of library visitors has already increased – they enjoy
the services of both the library and the IATP center.”
He added before the IATP program, his colleagues
knew absolutely nothing about computers and the
internet. 55
ICT skills for librarians are not only important for
modernizing library services but in keeping librarians
tapped into the global world of information. Maria
Calancea, a 55-year-old librarian from Chisinau,
Moldova, commented in a focus group discussion,
“Being a librarian means that you are an important
center of information, so we come to the IATP center
in order to become acquainted with global information,
not only the information that our library provides.”
Her colleague, Elena Cortac, agreed, “We are
very glad that someone finally paid attention to librarians,
too, because it is absolutely vital that we
stay in touch with the development of the informational
world.” She added, “IATP helps the library by
offering computer training. In this way, we become a
true information center for the community.” 56
Internet users at IATP centers in libraries have also
been useful to the library in helping keep up-to-date
on the most accurate information. ltifat Nabiev, Director
of the Central Library in Shirvan, Azerbaijan,
noted, “Our readers who use internet sometimes provide
the library with information that is missing on
the websites of the Ministry of Culture or the National
Library, for example, sometimes they inform us about
rare books or editions that are not represented in the
library.” 57
Even after IATP graduates a center and transfers the
management of the center to a local partner they remain
vital capacity-building tools for the partners;
libraries are no exception. An example is the National
Library of the Kyrgyz Republic, which partnered with
IATP through June 2008, when IATP in Kyrgyzstan
closed and transferred the centers to local partners.
After graduation, the National Library of the Kyrgyz
Republic introduced online access to the Russian
State Library’s dissertations database for scholars,
researchers, and students. The center became the
only place in the country providing online access to
scientific papers and research by Russian scholars.
53 Midline focus group discussion, IATP users group, Chisinau, Moldova, April 2, 2009
54 Midline focus group discussion, Internet laggards group, Chisinau, Moldova, April 2, 2009
55 Midline focus group discussion, IATP users group, Shirvan, Azerbaijan, April 10, 2009
56 Midline focus group discussion, IATP users group, Chisinau, Moldova, April 2, 2009
57 Midline focus group discussion, IATP users group, Shirvan, Azerbaijan, April 10, 2009
24