Training Manuals
While there are no specific manuals for setting-up basic libraries or resource centres on adult learning, we have listed several online sources that can be useful as the basic ideas of information management of printed and digital resources can be applied across the board.
As a general introduction, we recommend “What is Documentation” from HURIDOCS: https://www.huridocs.org/resource/what-is-documentation
Basic Library Management
The Community-Led Libraries Toolkit Working Together. 2008. Community-Led Libraries Toolkit. [pdf] Vancouver, The Working Together Project. Available at: http://www.librariesincommunities.ca/resources/Community-Led_Libraries_Toolkit.pdf
The Community-Led Libraries Toolkit provides philosophical and practical guidance for all stages of the library service planning process, from developing an understanding of community and needs identification through library policy development, service planning, day-to-day customer service, staff development, and evaluation. In addition to being a valuable resource for managers and librarians working with socially excluded communities, the Toolkit content should also be useful for any staff seeking to develop community-led practices, regardless of the social or socio-economic group they most directly serve.
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Resource Centre Manual: How to Set up and Manage a Resource Centre.
Contains practical information on setting up and managing a resource center, from planning, fundraising and finding a suitable location, to collecting and organising materials, developing information services, and monitoring and evaluating the work of the resource center. It focuses on manual systems for organizing information, but also explains how computers can be used in resource centers, including e-mail, Internet and databases. It describes how to select database software and contains a detailed review of three leading database programs. It includes a list of organisations and publications that can provide further information.
Contact for a copy:
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What is Documentation Guzman, Manuel; Verstappen, Bert. 2003. What is Documentation [pdf] Versoix, HURIDOCS. Available at: https://www.huridocs.org/resource/what-is-documentation/
A series of practical manuals on collecting and organizing documentation on human rights produced by HURIDOC (www.huridocs.org). Of particular interest is What is Documentation. It deals with the following issues: what is documentation, what is a document, why document, seeking information, producing documents, acquiring documents, organizing documents and providing user services. In English, French and Russian and available in HTML and PDF formats.
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Libraries for All: How to Start and Run a Small Library
Libraries for All: How to Start and Run a Small Library is a manual and resource guide designed for people with little or no training in librarianship and contains practical, step-by-step instructions for creating and managing a successful library. It was written by Laura Wendell, the founder of the World Library Partnership, with funding from UNESCO. It was reviewed and field tested by a panel of international librarians and development workers. This essential tool for small libraries worldwide is available in English, French and Spanish in HTML and PDF formats.
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Setting up and Running a School Library Nicola Baird. 1994. Setting Up and Running a School Library. [pdf] London, VSO Books/Heinemann. Available at: https://ia800204.us.archive.org/32/items/SettingUpAndRunningASchoolLibrary-Vso/vsolibrary.pdf
Setting up and Running a School Library gives step-by-step advice and makes establishing and running a library easy and fun. It is a lively and very practical guide especially written for non-librarians - and because it is based on VSO volunteers' and their colleagues' work, it takes into account the reality of working with very few resources. The book covers all aspects of setting up and running a library, including:
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Sharing Knowledge for Community Development and Transformation
This handbook is designed for men and women who don´t have any information management skills. It is for those who don´t have experiences in library work, for people who want to learn about information, knowledge and development. You will learn how to identify, collect and provide access to the information that assists and supports community transformation. The handbook is the product of training and discussion, of questions and answers, shared by those working in development. It is also a statement of confidence in and support for rural people. But it not only tries to provide some ideas on how to do it. It first discusses some theories and ideas in a language aimed at ordinary people.
Contact for a copy:
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Sustainable Library Development: Training Package. Carrel, M. & Wadsworth, G. 2013. Sustainable Library Development: Training Package. [pdf] Washington DC, Peace Corps. Available at: http://files.peacecorps.gov/library/Sustainable_Library_Development_Training_Package.pdf
The purpose of the Sustainable Library Development Training Package is to support and provide guidance to Peace Corps Volunteers engaged in library projects as both primary work assignments and secondary project activities. The training package is intended to strengthen the work of Volunteers in partnership with their communities and to help Peace Corps better demonstrate its impact. It includes detailed session plans that provide a foundation in sustainable library development for all trainees or Volunteers in education projects that include library development, or for any Volunteer who expects to undertake a library project activity as a secondary project.
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Working with Indigenous Knowledge: A Guide for Researchers Grenier, Louise. 1998. Working with Indigenous Knowledge: A Guide for Researchers. [pdf] Ottawa, International Development Research Centre. Available at: https://www.idrc.ca/en/book/working-indigenous-knowledge-guide-researchers?PublicationID=293
This guidebook zeros in on what indigenous knowledge can contribute to a sustainable development strategy that accounts for the potential of the local environment and the experience and wisdom of the indigenous population. Through an extensive review of field examples as well as current theory and practice, it provides a succinct yet comprehensive review of indigenous knowledge research and assessment. Working with Indigenous Knowledge will contribute to the improved design, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of any program of research and will appeal to both seasoned development professional as well as the novice and student just beginning a research career.
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Digital Information Management
A Rural ICT Toolkit for Africa Dymond, Andrew; Oestmann, Sonja. 2003. A Rural ICT Toolkit for Africa. [pdf] African Connection Centre for Strategic Planning. Available at: http://www.infodev.org/sites/default/files/resource/InfodevDocuments_23.pdf
The Rural ICT Toolkit is mainly addressed to African policymakers and regulators and other interested parties who wish to develop rural ICT programs and projects in their countries. It is also aimed at those wanting to foster regional harmonization, allowing for cross-border initiatives that can increase economies of scale and thus the attractiveness of the rural ICT market to private investors and players. This toolkit was produced under the overall African Connections Initiative of infoDev that supports consensus building activities and an action plan for improving telecommunications in rural areas. To download a free Pdf file, please go to InfoDev Publications.
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Digital Recordkeeping: Guidelines for Creating, Managing and Preserving Digital Records National Archives of Australia. 2004. Digital Recordkeeping: Guidelines for Creating, Managing and Preserving Digital Records. [pdf] Canberra, National Archives of Australia. Available at: http://mayaarbinaginting.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/6/1/10612501/digital_recordkeeping.pdf
This publication provides comprehensive guidance to Australian Government agencies on creating, managing and preserving digital records. Digital records must be actively managed in order to ensure they are available and usable for as long as required to support accountability, good business and the expectations of the public.
The guidelines contain advice on:
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Digital Preservation Handbook (2nd ed.) Digital Preservation Coalition. 2015. Digital Preservation Handbook, 2nd Edition [web], Available at: http://handbook.dpconline.org
This Handbook aims to identify good practice in creating, managing and preserving digital materials and also to provide a range of practical tools to help with that process. Although there are still challenges, it gives many examples of good practice and suggests ways in which institutions can begin to address digital preservation. By providing a strategic overview of the key issues, discussion and guidance on strategies and activities, and pointers to key projects and reports, the Handbook aims to provide guidance for institutions and individuals and a range of tools to help them identify and take appropriate actions
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Finding Information on the Internet: A Tutorial
The questions on this page should help you explain why a particular source is a good fit for your research project. It is offered by the University of Berkeley, USA.
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The ICT (Information and Communication Technology) for Library and Information Professionals (ICTLIP): Training Package for Developing Countries
Intended to provide the knowledge and skills required to deal with the application of ICT to library and information services, this package includes modules on integrated automated library systems, information searching in an electronic environment, database design, information storage and retrieval, the Internet as information resource, and web page concepts and design.
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Community Multimedia Centres: How to Get Started and Keep Going: A Guide / CMC Handbook UNESCO. 2004. Community Multimedia Centres: How to Get Started and Keep Going: A Guide. [pdf] Paris, UNESCO. Available at: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001346/134602e.pdf
The CMC Handbook is a result of suggestions from communities in rural and urban areas, NGOs working for community empowerment and communication planners supporting development activities. The Handbook will be a useful guide if you are already operating a community multimedia centre, providing communication services or considering starting a communication centre.
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