The FINANCIAL — The President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili has summed up the projects financed by the Presidential Reserve Fund that aim at modernizing and strengthening rural public libraries. The projects have been implemented by the Georgian Library Association and the National Library of Georgia since 2014.
President Margvelashvili has held a meeting with the project participant librarians and thanked them for their loyal service to the country, according to the Administration of the President of Georgia.
As he pointed out, all projects financed by the Presidential Reserve Fund that aim at strengthening rural libraries, also aim at ensuring active public involvement in the country’s development, through promoting the idea that each citizen determines own country’s future.
“When citizens benefit from library services that today’s modern libraries offer, your main message to every citizen of Georgia should be the following: the country’s development starts from each village that eventually triggers significant processes in the country; if people can change own lives in villages, they, in reality, change the entire country,” President Margvelashvili said while addressing librarians of rural libraries.
According to the President, it is important people to love own country’s past; however, living only in the past and neglecting ongoing processes will not strengthen our country. It is important to develop and live in the present; this does not mean that we lose and do not respect the past.
According to the project representatives, currently, there are more than 600 registered rural libraries in Georgia that are the only centers in villages where local population can receive information and assistance.
About the projects financed by the Presidential Reserve Fund:
In 2015, the Presidential Reserve Fund provided 48 rural libraries with equipment in Kakheti region. Trainings for librarians have also been carried out by the Fund’s financial support.
In 2016, the Fund, in cooperation with Beyond Access, implemented the project “Internet Access to All Rural Libraries – Modern Internet Services to Local Population” that aimed at educating local population through library services. Public Service Development Agency has also been involved in carrying out of the project, especially in implementing e-governance services. National Parliamentary Library of Georgia has been the main supporter of the project.
As part of the project, 70 registered rural libraries have been equipped with computers and internet services (personal computer, multifunction laser printer, and internet). 15 librarians have been selected as a result of interviews and trained. The selected librarians have trained the others.
1. Trainings have been conducted for 55 librarians.
2. ICT (Computer Skill) trainings have been conducted for 70 librarians.
3. E-governance trainings have been conducted for 95 librarians.
4. Georgian Library Association, together with the National Library of Georgia, has organized peer learning meetings for librarians.
In 2017, 3rd phase of the project was carried out. As part of the project, 33 libraries have been added to the existing library channel. Georgian Library Association has examined libraries in Georgia and ensured librarians’ trainings, in order to develop their managerial and information skills according to the local population needs. While monitoring and evaluating the project, it turned out that aside modern internet services, libraries could also provide many more services to local communities in comparison to the previous years.
As part of the project, 118 librarians from 600 libraries have already been trained.
This year, the project is being implemented under the name “Librarian as Community Mobilizer and Strengthener”. Librarians, after receiving special trainings, will be able to perform the task of mobilizing communities.
Up to date, libraries provided modern internet services and computer courses to local population and assisted people in finding desirable information in the internet; while in the next phase of the project, librarians will be trained in social direction, in order to become not only informers, but also assistants of people in solving social problems and redirecting them to the right place.
Aside trainings in computer skills and modern library services, librarians will be trained in community mobilization. These trainings are prepared by the Georgian Library Association in collaboration with Ilia State University. Through these trainings, librarians will become “community mobilizers”.
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