Inquiry Blog Post #4

 Books For All!

    Literacy is a way to help break the cycle of poverty. Internet, mobile devices, and digital technologies have become a means to provide access to books and elevate literacy in developing nations. According to a UNESCO report (2014) “the internet is helping to level the playing field. It has accelerated the spread of information and, in many instances, democratized access to it. Digital networks, computer processors and liquid crystal display (LCD) screens remove production constraints that have kept reading material prohibitively expensive for centuries.” This universal access created by the internet and technology is exciting and has opened so many doors for those in developing nations. It seems the possibilities are only limited by our imaginations. There are some amazing organizations creating access to books and literacy opportunities to those who might not otherwise have it. 

    In my research into this topic I came across an organization called Worldreader. Worldreader partners with libraries in developing nations to provide “digital reading technologies to improve access to local language early-grade-reading content” (Heavner, n.d.). In one of Worldreader’s pilot projects, Project LEAP they set out to “increase the availability of reading materials in Kenya’s libraries with the provision of e-readers filled with relevant books.” (2015).

    Another organization similar in its intent to Worldreader is called Library for All. Library for All “provides access to culturally relevant, age-appropriate books in a language and context children understand and relate to”. Providing children with access to digital technologies and subsequent access to books is empowering and life changing. Making access to books universal plays a huge role in improving literacy world-wide, and both Worldreader and Library for All seem to be making a huge impact.

    In Australia the Indigenous Literacy Foundation seeks to increase access to print books for First Nations people in remote locations in their country. Although these resources are not digital, I wanted to share their work because I think it is equally as important and shares the same vision and goals as Worldreader and Library for All. One of the many remarkable things about the ILF is that it also publishes books in indigenous languages that are created by children, families, and communities. ILF also helps communities implement programs that support early literacy and community education around fostering literacy learning among children under 5.  

    While reading about all the remarkable and inspiring work that is being done by individuals, NGO’s, technology giants and governments to bring books both digitally and in print to the developing world, I couldn’t help but think, what about children here in Canada that don’t have access to books? What about Indigenous Canadian youth that don’t have access to books? Could some of these digital and print initiatives taken to promote literacy in the developing world be implemented here in Canada to provide better access to books for Indigenous children?

Below are some stats about graduation and literacy rates here in Canada:

-According to a Government of Canada document (2018), “about 44% of First Nations on-reserve (age 18-24) have completed high school, compared to 88% for other Canadians.”

- In 2015, StatsCan reported that “Aboriginal people have lower literacy and numeracy scores than their non-Aboriginal counterparts.”

-The following graph comes from StatsCan in 2011: 

I also came across these two stats from the Chiefs Assembly on Education (2012):

-1 in 4 children in First Nations’ communities lives in poverty.

-Almost half of First Nations households do not have an internet connection.

 

    All this information led me to wonder, how can we use mobile devices, internet, and other devices to bring books to Indigenous communities in Canada? What can we do to improve the literacy rates and graduation rates of Indigenous children here in Canada? I think a lot can be learned from Worldreader, Library for All and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. It surprises me that something like the Indigenous Literacy Foundation in Australia doesn’t exist here in Canada. I am filled with hope that one day soon we will see more positive change for literacy rates and universal access to internet and books here in Canada.

References

Government of Canada. (2015). Statistics Canada - Education. Accessed July 25, 2021. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/89-645-x/2015001/education-eng.htm.

Heaver, R. (n.d.). How to integrate digital reading into your library. WorldReader. Retrieved July 25, 2021 from https://www.worldreader.org/now/how-to-integrate-digital-reading-into-your-library/.

Indigenous Literacy Foundation. (2021, July 29). Indigenous literacy foundation. https://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/.

Library for all. (2021, July 29). Library for all. http://www.libraryforall.org/

Mark, W., & Chew, H. E. (2014). Reading in the Mobile Era. UNESCO. Retrieved July 25, 2021, from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002274/227436e.pdf

WorldReader. (2015). Project LEAP: Evaluation the effects of E-readers in libraries in Kenya. Retrieved July 29, 202l from PROJECT_LEAP.pdf (worldreader.org).

Worldreader. (2021, July 29). Worldreader. https://www.worldreader.org/