EIFL PUBLIC LIBRARY INNOVATION AWARD 8: INNOVATIVE PUBLIC LIBRARIES CONTRIBUTING TO LITERACY
ATTENTION INNOVATIVE PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY LIBRARIES!
Are you offering an innovative service that uses information and communication technology (ICT) to contribute to literacy in your community?
Tell us your story and enter a competition to win US$1,500!
The award for Public libraries contributing to literacy is the eighth call in our exciting innovation awards programme for public libraries in developing and transition economy countries.
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY LITERACY?
We define literacy as the ability to read and write, and to communicate in official languages (languages used by government and the administration) that enable full participation in society.
With this call, we are seeking excellent examples of library services that use digital technology:
- To teach non-literate people how to read and write, and / or
- To improve people’s existing literacy levels.
The services can target people of any age and gender (including children, youth, adults or seniors) who have literacy needs.
Here are some examples of innovative ICT-based approaches to teaching literacy:
- Creating locally relevant content to teach literacy skills and encourage reading in the community;
- Offering technology-based services that teach immigrants to read, write and understand the official languages they need in order to integrate into society;
- Providing access to online literacy lessons and guiding learners to use them;
- Using the internet, online multimedia applications, online communications tools, or mobile technology to advance literacy skills;
- Building capacity of school teachers and tutors to use digital technology in their literacy classes;
- Using ICT in family literacy sessions, in which children and parents learn literacy skills together.
WHY LITERACY?
Although literacy has been on the rise for the past 15 years, there are still millions of people people who cannot read or write, or have limited literacy skills.
Literacy empowers people to make the right decisions and choices in crucial areas that affect their lives; it increases access to education and training and to better paying and more rewarding jobs. Literacy enables people to participate fully in society.
Advances in technology have made literacy even more important. In order to use technology - to access the internet, communicate online and to use mobile phones for text messaging - you need basic literacy skills.
WHO MAY ENTER?
To enter the competition, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- You must be a public or community library.
- The library must be in a transition or developing economy country [pdf] .
- You must integrate digital information and communication technology (ICT) into the service you are submitting.
- The service should have started after January 2012.
- The service must be operational at the time of application.
Note: We will not consider innovative library services that (1) only offer free public access to computers and the internet; 2) only offer ICT skills training; 3) only provide access to digital libraries.
WHEN CAN YOU ENTER?
This call is open from 12 August 2015. The deadline for applications is 12 October 2015.
WHAT WILL YOU WIN?
- Each winner will receive US$1,500; and
- International publicity – EIFL-PLIP will share your story widely through its publicity channels.
NUMBER OF AWARDS
There will be more than one award – the number of award-winners will depend on the quality and diversity of applications received.
Click here for further details about this award and how to apply.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
http://www.eifl.net/programme/public-library-innovation-programme/eifl-public-library-innovation-award-8-en