Library

Resource Centres for Learning and Change

This page provides links to a range of source material developed to support the creation and sustainability of community-based resource centres.

We are members of the ALADIN Network, dedicated to the promotion of libraries and resource centres supporting adult education.

Manuals for Resource Centres

• Adams, A. & MacLean, E. (2006). Experiential exercises for resource centres training. (577K pdf)
• Carrel, M. & Wadsworth, G. (2013). Sustainable library development: Training package. Washington, DC: Peace Corps. (7.62 Mb pdf)
• Grenier, L. (1998). Working with indigenous knowledge: A guide for researchers. Library has hard copy, 333.7 G865w.
• Healthlink Worldwide. (2003). Resource centre manual: How to set up and manage a resource centre. (3.26 Mb pdf)
• Hughes, S., Eashwar, S., & Jennings, V. (Eds.). (2004). Community multimedia centres: How to get started and keep going: a guide. Paris: UNESCO. (2.33 Mb pdf)
• International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR). (1996). Recording and using indigenous knowledge: A manual. Library has hard copy, 001.43 Int8r.
• Jensen, M. & Esterhuysen, A. (2001). The community telecentre cookbook for Africa: Recipes for self-sustainability: how to establish a multi-purpose community telecentre in Africa. (527K pdf)
• Mchombu, K., et al. (2004). Sharing knowledge for community development and transformation: A handbook. (396K pdf)
• Moore, N. (2007). Community information and technology centres: Focus on South-East Asia. Bangkok: UNESCO. (937K pdf)
• Peace Corps. (2012). Sources of donated books for schools and libraries. (Information collection and exchange publication no. RE003). Washington, DC: Peace Corps. (1.22 Mb pdf)
• Wendell, L. (1998). Libraries for all: How to start and run a basic library. (9.33 Mb pdf)

Action Planning

• Jensen, G. (2012). The logical framework approach: How to guide. London: Bond. (490K pdf)
• Logical Framework Analysis, BOND Guidance Notes 4. (179K pdf)
• Commonwealth of Australia. (2005). The logical framework approach. (266K pdf)
• Participation, Eldis resource guide.

Collection Building

• Collection Building - Electronic
• Communications for Change (C4C) encourages participatory communication through the use of community-based video.
• Lyris List Manager
• Collection Development Policies
  • Library Collection Development Policies
  • Electronic Resources Collection Development Policy, examples:
    • Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Richmond, BC. (386K pdf)
    • Ottenheimer Library, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
    • University of Hong Kong
  • Publishers Links
    • BookAid International works with organisations in developing countries to support local initiatives in literacy, education, training and publishing.
    • Practical Action publishes books on microfinance, microenterprise, organizational development, capacity building, civil society and other international development topics.
    • Video University contains links to film and video distributors.
  • AMARC - World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters
  • Farm Radio International, a Canadian organization working with broadcasters in African countries to fight poverty and food insecurity.
  • Das, A., Sen, B. & Josaih, J. (2008). Open access to knowledge and information: Scholarly literature and digital library initiatives: The South Asian scenario. Published by UNESCO.
  • Johnson, S., et al. (2012). Key issues for e-resource collection development: A guide for libraries. Published by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. (178K pdf)

Cataloguing and Classification

• Cataloguer's Toolbox
• Course materials from the Library of Congress' Cataloguers Learning Workshop (CLW). Site contains PDF documents on cataloguing skills, digital library environment skills, and serials cataloguing.
• Was Ranganathan a yahoo?

Database Management Systems

• CDS/ISIS
• The ISIS-software family: an introduction for novice/prospective users
• Cardbox for Windows
• Microsoft Access tutorials
  • Access 2003
  • Access 2007
  • Access 2010
  • Access 2013

Indigenous Knowledge/Global Knowledge

• The Development Gateway
• Global Development Network (GDNet)
• Heeks, R., Arun, S. & Morgan, S. (2005). Researching women's ICT-based enterprise for development: methods, tools and lessons from fieldwork. Published by Women's ICT-Based Enterprise for Development.
• Chapman, R. & Slaymaker, T. (2002). ICTs and rural development: Review of the literature and current interventions and opportunities for action. (ODI Working Paper 92) (265K pdf)
• Rao, C. (2004). The role of Intellectual Property Rights in Information and Communication Technologies. Centre for Economic and Social Studies Working Paper 61. (68K pdf)
• Indigenous Knowledge Resource Centres
• Langill, S. (n.d.). Introduction to indigenous knowledge. The Overstory, 82.
• Raghavan, C. (2000). Neem Patent revoked by European Patent Office.
• InsightShare's participatory video tools for building skill, self-confidence and trust.

Information Literacy

• IDS. (2012). Training toolkit: Monitoring and evaluation for information literacy training initiatives in Africa: a journey approach. Toolkit and accompanying flowcharts available for download.

Introduction to HTML and Website Creation

• Chami's HTML Kit, highly regarded HTML editor which is freely available for downloading.
• Evrsoft's 1st Page, a popular and highly recommended HTML editor.
• HTML tutorial (HTML5 compliant), W3Schools.com teaches you everything about HTML.
• Search engine registration, easy way to submit your web page URL to multiple search engines.

Records Management

• Electronic Recordkeeping, ASIS Bulletin, 23(5).
• National Archives of Australia. (2004). Digital recordkeeping: Guidelines for creating, managing and preserving digital records. (660K pdf)
• Records Management Guidance, guidelines and toolkits on managing electronic records.
• Authority on Managing Records and Information (ARMA) International, organisation that develops standards on records management.
• Recordkeeping publications, Government archives of New Zealand.
• Conducting a records inventory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
• Aidworkers Network, tips on records management for NGOs working in challenging or dangerous situations.

Sustainability

• Dashboard of Sustainability, IISD's free software package illustrating the relationships among economic, social and environmental issues.
• Rural Education and Development (READ Global) combines education and private enterprise to make rural communities places to learn, build, and prosper.

Supplementary Links

Readings

• Dearden, P., et al. (2002). Tools for development: A handbook for those engaged in development activity. London: DFID. (503K pdf)
• Richard, J., & Adams, S. (2009). Partners in libraries. APLA Bulletin, 72(4), 5-9. (2.16 Mb pdf)

General Development Websites

• OneWorld.net brings together the latest news and views from organizations promoting human rights awareness and fighting poverty.
• Changemakers is a community collaborating on solutions to solve the world's social problems.
• Third World Network (TWN) joins organizations and individuals involved in issues relating to development, the Third World and North-South issues.
• New Zealand Digital Library contains databases of development collections including agriculture, health, environment and social issues.
• Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA) improves the lives of women and girls in developing countries. It gives women the tools they need to improve their lives, families and communities.
• CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
• Marilyn Waring: Sex, Lies & Global Economics: How to change a system that causes misery, a podcast of the feminist economics film about the New Zealand author and former member of parliament, Marilyn Waring.
• PANOS London promoted the participation of poor and marginalized people in debates through media and communication projects. It ceased operations in 2013.
• United Nations System of Organizations' official website locator.
• Working Together Project explores social exclusion, public libraries and librarianship. In April 2008, the Working Together Project released the publication Community-Led Libraries Toolkit (1.5 Mb pdf), which shares the experiences and lessons learned over the past four years.

Electronic Resource Centres

• UNESCO's ICT in Education programme, e-Library
• Managers' Electronic Resource Center, network of health professionals sharing management experience.
• Network Startup Resource Centre (NSRC) provides assistance to networking initiatives building access to the public Internet.
• Global Focus Aotearoa is Aotearoa New Zealand's provider of information and education on global and development issues.
• The Digital South Asia Library
• New York Public Library (NYPL) Digital Gallery
• Aluka: Building a digital library of scholarly resources from and about Africa
• Internet Archive: a digital library of Internet sites
• World Bank e-Library
• World Bank Open Knowledge Repository (OKR) is the World Bank's official open access repository for its research outputs and knowledge products.

Networks

• ALADIN: Adult Learning Documentation and Information Network
• Directory of Development Organizations, guide to Microfinance Institutions, Small Enterprise Development Organizations, NGOs/PDOs, Development Agencies, International Organizations, Private Sector Institutions, Banks, Government Ministries, Universities and Development Consulting Firms
• Kabissa helps African civil society organizations put ICT to work for the benefit of their communities.
• The NGO Café, links to various NGO indices and resources on the internet.
• South Asian Women's NETwork (SAWNET), a forum for and about women.
• Global Development Network (GDN) promotes the generation, sharing and application to policy of multidisciplinary knowledge for the purpose of development.

Search Tools and Internet Use

• 100 Best Free Web Space Services, listing and reviews of websites that allow you to design and post your own webpage.
• Mannix, K. (1999). The Busy Women's Guide to the Internet: Activism and Research On-line. Information and links to women's human rights as well as tools for the Internet. (211K pdf)
• Learn The Net, tutorial on internet use, including introductions to email, searching, and website design.
• WebWise, a beginner's guide to using the internet, developed by the BBC.

Subject Specific Sites

• The Microfinance Gateway features the latest research and publications on microfinance.
  Database of 1,500 abstracts and documents on microfinance, many can be downloaded as full-text PDF files.
• KIT Publishers, the Royal Tropical Institute's independent publisher, specializes in development issues.
• Institute for Development Policy and Management (IDPM) promotes and assists social and economic development for lower-income countries and disadvantaged groups.
• INTRAC (International NGO Training and Research Centre)
• International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) unites, represents and serves co-operatives worldwide.
• BRIDGE provides a central point for gender and development information to support gender mainstreaming needs.
• Centre for Sustainable Community Development, Simon Fraser University.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF) creates solutions to solve the planet's environmental challenges.
• Digital Library of Information Science and Technology (DLIST), from the University of Arizona.
• HSRC Press, South Africa's open access publisher of social science research.

Funding Sources and Fundraising Strategies

• Eldis Fundraising sources, links to government, charitable and corporate funders, as well as fundraising guides.
• Foundations & Grantmakers Directory, alphabetical listing of Foundations and Grantmakers based in the United States.
• The Virtual Foundation, supports grassroots initiatives seeking funding by posting project proposals on the website for donors to read.

Electronic Journals

• Directory of Open Access Journals includes a large number of free, full text, quality controlled scientific and scholarly journals.
• Electronic journals: A selected resource guide, information about electronic journals with links to several e-journal directories.
• New Internationalist
• Kidon Media-Link, directory of online newspapers, as well as radio and television services around the world
• Partnership: the Canadian Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research, issues available: 1(2006)-current.
• The SPARC Open Access Newsletter, news and analysis of the open-access movement and explores how the internet is transforming scholarly research and publication.

* This resource page was originally created for the Coady certificate program, Managing NGO Resource Centres/Resource Centres for Learning and Change.

• Information about the Certificate
• About the Program (780K pdf)

Field Visits

• Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia
• Ecology Action Centre
• Wagmatcook Culture and Heritage Centre

Updated May 8, 2013.