October 2009: U.S. EMBASSY AWARDS GRANTS TO UKRAINIAN LIBRARIES TO OPEN INTERNET CENTERS
In September, the U.S. Embassy awarded grants to 6 Ukrainian public libraries
to open free public Internet centers as part of the Library Electronic Access Project (LEAP).
The goal of this program is to support Ukrainian citizens' access to information,
a cornerstone of democracy.
Since 2001, the U.S. government has devoted more
than $1.5 million to improving Ukrainian citizens' access
to information by opening free Internet centers in public libraries.
Libraries receive grants of up to $10,000 for computer equipment, software,
and two years of Internet access. These grants bring the number of Internet
centers opened in Ukraine under this project to 141.
The winning libraries are:
1. Ivanovetska Rural Library, Barsky Rayon, Vinnytsia Oblast
2. Central City Library, Poltava City Centralized Library System
3. Kamyanska Pushkin Central Rayon Library, Cherkasy Oblast
4. Katerynopil Rayon Library for Children, Cherkasy Oblast
5. Khmilnytska Rayon Library for Adults, Vinnytsia Oblast
6. Central City Library, Tokmak, Zaporizhzhia Oblast
"Accessibility of Electronic Information: Internet Centers in Public Libraries, Strategy and Tactics"
Workshop for the winners of the Library Electronic Access Project (LEAP VIII)
Kherson Oblast Library -- October 7-9, 2009
On October 7-9, PA Kyiv conducted a workshop entitled "Accessibility of Electronic Information:
Internet Centers in Public Libraries, Strategy and Tactics" in Kherson Oblast Library.
Winners of the Library Electronic Access Project (LEAP) competition were invited to participate
in the workshop. Each library was represented by the library director, a librarian, and
by the head of the Department of Culture's local administration. Participants received
information on running the Internet centers in public libraries.
Presenters - IRC director Valentyna Pashkova,
IRC Assistant Olesia Shkurat and project coordinator Olha Lyubynetska
briefed the participants on the library mission to provide access to
electronic information; on technological issues of opening the library Internet center;
and, on grant management and reporting. Four library directors,
who already had Internet centers under LEAP from Kerch and Chernomorsk (Crimea),
Dolyna (Ivano-Frankivsk oblast) and Vinnytsia shared best practices with their colleagues.
Twenty six participants had hands-on training at the Internet center.
Participants also visited three libraries in Kherson with Internet centers opened under LEAP.
(LEAP news archive)
