EIFL is delighted to announce a joint project with Addis Ababa Culture and Tourism Bureau that will build capacity of public libraries in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital city, to use digital technology to serve the needs of children and youth.

The collaboration between the Addis Ababa Culture and Tourism Bureau and the EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme (EIFL-PLIP) will modernize the operations of 11 public libraries in Addis Ababa by equipping them with computers and internet connections. It will also build the capacity of 22 public librarians to use the equipment, and integrate it into new services that support young people’s technology skills and information needs.

Addis Ababa Culture and Tourism Bureau to equip public libraries

Addis Ababa Culture and Tourism Bureau will fund purchase, installation and maintenance of computer and internet connections at the 11 public libraries. The bureau will also help EIFL-PLIP select 22 public librarians for training.

“The Addis Ababa Culture and Tourism Bureau, on behalf of the City Government of Addis, recognizes the value and importance of public libraries and is therefore committed to expanding their services,” said Gebretsadik Hagos, Head of Addis Ababa Culture and Tourism Bureau.

“The partnership agreement signed between our bureau and EIFL (Electronic Information for Libraries ) is the right step to encourage innovation in public libraries that will benefit thousands of young people in Addis Ababa.

“The Addis Ababa Culture and Tourism Bureau values EIFL's high-level expertise and we look forward to working together and sharing experience and resources to improve the ability of public libraries to provide information to their users,” Hagos added.

Grants for new and innovative services

Working with the Consortium of Ethiopian Academic and Research Libraries (CEARL), EIFL-PLIP will design a training curriculum focused on technology and e-literacy skills, and new service development. The curriculum will be based on similar training that EIFL-PLIP is piloting in Ghana, Kenya and Uganda.

In addition, EIFL-PLIP will provide grant support to three public libraries to enable them to develop and implement innovative technology-based services for children and youth. The three libraries will be selected through a competitive process.

Ramune Petuchovaite, EIFL-PLIP manager, said EIFL was delighted to support the Addis Ababa Culture and Tourism Bureau’s goal of building a modern network of public libraries in the city.  

The initiative will run from January 2015 to March 2016.​

The partners

Addis Ababa Culture and Tourism Bureau is in charge of a network of 81 public libraries offering services in Addis Ababa, and plays leading role in protecting and preserving the city's cultural and historical values, promoting tourism and ensuring that residents of the city benefit from tourism.

EIFL-PLIP advances community development by enabling public libraries to implement innovative ideas that use technology to improve people’s lives and livelihoods. Since 2010, EIFL-PLIP support has led to creation of 21 new public library projects and services that are now being offered through 34 public  and community libraries  in six African countries (Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia). 

CEARL (the Consortium of Ethiopian Academic and Research Libraries) comprises 24 academic and research libraries. Through this EIFL-supported consortium, libraries in Ethiopia are providing access to a wide range of scholarly e-resources.