Libraries Unlimited

We will develop a shared vision of 21st Century libraries across Bangladesh that embeds the country’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and provides communities with access to information, knowledge and skills development.

We are establishing a model public library in Munshiganj and we will scale services and introduce new innovative concepts of learning through creative play in all 64 district government public libraries. We will upgrade ICT facilities and introduce high speed public Wi-Fi internet in all 64 district government public libraries in Bangladesh. State-of-the-art computer educational toolkits (e.g. Kano computer and micro:bit) will be made available in each library and govt. public library based code clubs will be established in all 64 districts where a free course on 'Introduction to Computer Science using micro:bit and Kano' will be offered to the public (especially to the children).

We will enable public libraries to provide an increased number of locally-relevant services that directly meet the needs of their communities, such as high-quality and supported free public access to the internet. We will also implement a national awareness campaign and secure partnerships with corporations, NGOs, multi-laterals, foundations and educational institutions enhance the services provided at public libraries and to innovate the role of public libraries to serve the community

We will train library staff to provide user-centred 21st-century services and to become catalysts for change in their community. Training includes building digital leadership and ICT skills, community engagement and outreach, customer services, operations and technical management, team building, and event and activity management.

We will establish national monitoring, learning and evaluation systems for libraries’ development process. This will enable analytical capacity and data collection to inform library design and services. We will also seek to share best practice and lessons learned globally.

As part of introducing innovative learning technologies at public libraries, Libraries Unlimited is taking Kano computers and micro:bit  and holding computer coding workshops to 64 district level public libraries in Bangladesh by 2020. Through micro:bit and Kano computes (a raspberry pi based educational computer/toolkit), children and young people will be able to learn and develop the skill of coding by attending free classes, run by a pool of volunteers provided by our operational ally BDOSN (Bangladesh Open Source Network) and also local tech enthusiasts. Micro:bit and Kano computers will popularise the context of coding among young people in Bangladesh and this will open exciting opportunities to coding, which is one of the fastest growing occupation worldwide- leading to future employment, community engagement, digital leadership and skills development. Kano computers and micro:bits will be available in all 64 district government public libraries and eventually a public library based code club will be set up in each districts using local resources/club leaders, which will make this initiative sustainable. Additional robotics kit and climate action kits for micro:bits will also be provided to the libraries so that children can come to the library and get a hands-on introduction to robotics (build robot cars using micro:bit that will have light following line following and obstacle avoiding functionalities etc.). Besides, the 'do your :bit' campaign (which is a new BBC micro:bit challenge for children and teens to combine creativity and technology in solutions for the Global Goals) has been rolled out in different districts of Bangladesh which comprises of two day long workshops aiming to inspire children on how to combine technology (micro:bit and it's accessories) and creativity in order to solve global problems around SDGs (SDG 14 and SDG 15).The partnership with BDOSN (Bangladesh Open Source Network) has been extended to host Bangladeh Robot Olympiad, Junior Science Olympiad and World Robot Olympiad activation workshops, seminars etc. in as many district/divisional public libraries of Bangladesh as possible. ICT Ministry is one of the main sponsors of Bangladesh Robot Olympiad.