Public Library Radislav Nikčević in Jagodina

Serbia

Agricultural Libraries

in Jagodina

There is a network of around 230,000 libraries in the world. Almost all

countries around the world have a network of libraries, even in the most remote areas. The mission of libraries

is to provide their users with information for life-long learning and to participate in informal education.

When creating strategies for ICT education of rural residents,

governments often overlook the fact that libraries could be of great

assistance.

Libraries more and more often attract attention with innovative projects that include ICT education and its use. With the project from Serbia-Agricultural Libraries In Jagodina,

awarded by the World Summit of Information Society 2013, we want all governments and funders to focus their attention on the role of libraries in their mission to provide access to

information and knowledge.

Map of Jagodina town and villages.

During the 70s and the 80s all bigger villages in the municipality of Jagodina, Serbia had village libraries. At that time library

services were traditional and users were students and  literature fans.

During the 90s libraries were neglected due to economic and

political crisis.

Rural library in Glogovac was in poor condition

In 2008 Public Library Radislav Nikcevic in Jagodina conducted a survey on the

condition of rural libraries in the municipality and needs of the agricultural population. The results showed that rural libraries were in poor condition, the book

funds were outdated and inadequate. Predominantly rural residents could not

use computers and did not understand the benefits of using ICT technologies.

On the other hand, Serbian government and institutions in Serbia transferred to the electronic notification system. Vacancies on subsidies and incentives for farmers are

published on the website of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Agriculture. The state does not

have a clearly-defined strategy regarding ICT literacy of rural population.

Public library in Jagodina town is fully developed.

Having realized the problems in Jagodina’s rural libraries and problems

of agricultural population in the villages, it was concluded that the modernized and revitalized rural

libraries could lead to changes in the villages. The concept of a village

library that would be the information, communication and cultural hub of local communities was designed.

Rural library in Bunar village was in poor condition

Website of the AgroLib-Ja project

For the realization of big ideas start-up capital is needed.

Therefore, Jagodina Public Library searched for the

incentives for the idea. The revitalization of rural

libraries project was named AgroLib Ja (Agricultural Libraries in Jagodina).

AgroLib-Ja project logo

Now to agricultural population in five rural libraries the following

services are available :

1. Agricultural magazines and literature

2. Internet access and ICT training

3. Lectures in the field of agriculture

4. Website www.agrolib.rs and www.agrolib.rs/pijaca/ (AgroLib market)

Apart from traditional library services, village libraries provide ICT training for farmers. Farmers acquire

basic computer skills, learn how to use social networks

and forums and how to search useful information and to buy

and sell on the Internet. All 5 libraries have access to the Internet and computers. Using the Internet is free. ICT

training for farmers, organized in the village libraries  was also free.

Website AgroLib market

The goal of launching the online marketplace

http://www.agrolib.rs/pijaca/ is to gather all farmers in one place,

which facilitates communication and exchange of experiences.

Also, advertising on the website helps them find buyers for their products. The ultimate goal is to

improve economic and social status of farmers.

ICT trainings for beekeepers from Bagrdan

In the beginning we faced great opposition from farmers to ICT.

When we gained the trust and support from beekeepers from Bagrdan, the

attitude of farmers towards new information technologies started to change. Farmers are now not only

members of rural libraries, but also of the town library-Public library in

Jagodina.

PublicLibrary

Radislav Nikcevic

in Jagodina

logo

During the realization of the project AgroLib we interviewed users of the project to hear their opinions about the benefits of the project

and we made video stories. Also, a local TV station followed the

development of the project. Here is one of the videos about Ljiljana Vulic from Staro

Laniste, who is engaged in mat –weaving.

Farmers in rural

libraries

Libraries and the website became places for exchanging good ideas and even for starting agribusiness. A lot of people are telling us their stories about how the website or going to the

library helped them. There are a lot of stories we do not know about. We suppose there is a great number of them because the village libraries and the online marketplace

AgroLib are more and more visited.

To date Over 900 farmers regularly use the AgroLib Ja services. Over 150 farmers were trained to use the internet in three years - and 87% of

farmers say they are using the internet at the library to look for agricultural information.

Over 1.000 farmers attended panel discussions and lectures . The library launched the AgroLib Ja website - www.agrolib.rs, which in 2011

had over 30,000 visitors, in 2012 had over 60.000 visitors, and in 2013 there are for about 10% more visits to the site than at the same time, last year.

Five village libraries were renovated and equipped and are now vital community centres.

The idea of rural agricultural libraries in Serbia was the inspiration for many

libraries in other countries. After a year, Public Library Innovation Programme

supported financially three libraries that adapted the idea of AgroLib to the needs

of their local communities. These are Public libraries in Latvia, Lithuania and FYROM. The goal is the same, enabling

access to information by using new information technologies.

Library webinar series saves us time and money, say farmers

Klintaine Public Library in Latvia made a network of rural libraries. To save costs of arriving at the seminars and lectures, the library makes webinars for farmers.

Through webinars, farmers gather in libraries and are able to communicate with some of the representatives of

government agencies and agricultural experts, and in that way they get first

hand information..

LIBR-A Project Manager Rita Bedulyte demonstrates the

library's website for farmers.

Pasvalys Marius Katiliskis Public Library in Lithuania develops services with so-

called Smart phones, because their farmers can already use computers. On smart phones, farmers connect to the

Internet, they have cameras and media players. Also, they have a web portal

for monitoring informaiton about agriulture. This library develops a

website for helping farmers communicate.

Library on Wheels - the INFOBUS

Public Library Goce Delcev in Macedonia copied the AgroLib project

completely, which is not surprising given that the situation in their country

is alsmost identical to the one in Serbia. The only difference is they do not revitalize rural libraries, because they have Infobus, and they inform farmers through text messages about

trainings and on various types of financing that are intended for them.

Libraries - information, communication and

cultural centers of their local communities

AgroLib project as well as projects by other libraries which implement similar ideas show that rural libraries should be

given a new role in modern librarianship. They should become

educational, informational, communication and cultural centers in their local communities. Also, they can

be triggers for social and economic changes in communities and beyond.

Farmers after ICT education

.

New information technologies, the use of social networks and certain websites can be an important factor in education

and associating farmers. Rural libraries can be places that encourage professional and ICT education of farmers.

Libraries are potential that can help meet the millennium development goals, especially in the developing and transitioning countries.

We believe that libraries power development.