Beyond Access 2012: How libraries power development

Beyond Access, an initiative that believes that libraries power development, is holding its first conference on October 3, 2012 in Washington, DC. The event, Local Alternatives for Global Development: Rediscovering Libraries, will bring together library representatives, government officials, and international development professionals from all over the world to spark ideas and dialogue about how libraries contribute to global development.

The event, in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will feature USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah and former President of Chile, Ricardo Lagos. Beyond Access encourages representatives from international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), development professionals and donors, and ICT4D professionals to attend to learn about new ways to approach development using the existing and local infrastructure and resources libraries provide.

TASCHA’s Director, Chris Coward, and I will be attending the event, representing TASCHA and some of our research projects, such as our work on Perceptions of Libraries as Development Partners and the Global Impact Study, which explores the impact of public access ICTs in venues such as libraries in developing countries.

Beyond Access is an initiative of IREX, EIFL, IFLA, Makaia, Civic Regeneration, TASCHA, the Riecken Foundation, and READ Global, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information, visit the Beyond Access website.

To follow Beyond Access and the event on October 3: