The role ICTs and libraries play in emergency situations

The role ICTs and libraries play in emergency situations

The use of ICTs, such as mobile phones, text messages, and various applications, increases with every emergency situation and disaster we see. The organization Libraries Without Borders (Bibliothèques Sans Frontières) recently held an international symposium, The Urgency of Reading, which brought together experts from all over the world to discuss innovations and good practices in providing access to information, ICTs, and culture in emergency humanitarian situations.

Among participants from the United Nations, UNESCO, and various humanitarian foundations, TASCHA’s Maria Garrido was invited to discuss her research on the role of public access ICT venues, such as libraries and telecenters, in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake and tsunami in Chile. Maria presented the main findings of this research, as well as the recommendations based on the findings. Maria focused particularly on the importance of the physical space libraries provide in the aftermath of disasters.

The research showed that, indeed, libraries and telecenters played a critical role in the aftermath of the disasters, providing information and communication access that fulfilled crucial emergency functions for the communities that they serve. Based on this and other findings, Maria and her fellow researchers recommend that governments at all levels should incorporate libraries and telecenters into emergency planning and response efforts. For more information on this research and for other findings and recommendations, please visit the project page.

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Video of Maria’s presentation
Slides from Maria’s presentation
Videos from the entire symposium