Round Table on Mobile Libraries

Medium Term Programme 1998-2001

Scope statement

Goals, 1998-2001 - Action Plans, 1998-1999

Goal 1

Promote the importance and value of mobile libraries for effecting equity of access to information for all residents, particularly in remote and rural areas.

Action:

1.1 Collect and disseminate current research regarding developments in mobile library services.

Goal 2

Disseminate information worldwide on best-practices in mobile library services.

Actions:

2.1 Investigate the production of international best-practices booklet on mobile libraries and services in hardcopy or electronic format.

2.2 Maintain currency of information on technological developments in mobile libraries.

2.3 Monitor research into satellite communication in mobile libraries.

Goal 3

Promote regional, national and international initiatives to improve/create literacy and library services via mobile libraries.

Actions:

3.1 Research, write and present papers related to the use of mobile libraries to improve literacy and library services.

3.2 Represent IFLA Round Table on Mobile Libraries at conferences, workshops, seminars and development projects.

3.3 Work with appropriate organizations, institutions, agencies and foundations to bring support for projects of the Round Table and collaborating organizations, sections and round tables.

3.4 Promote the mobile libraries as a cost effective, flexible and innovative ways of providing library services for literacy and lifelong learning.

3.5 Encourage National seminars and conferences on mobile library services.

3.6 Liaise with conference organisers and Library Associations to provide national conferences on mobile libraries with international content.

Goal 4

Promote international standards for mobile libraries in a technological environment.

Actions:

4.1 Plan an expert meeting on the role of mobile libraries in literacy for Bangkok 1999.

4.2 Develop guidelines for electronic mobile libraries.

Goal 5

Provide professional and informative advice on the establishment and development for mobile library services.

Actions:

5.1 Members contribute to professional publications on the need for and value of mobile libraries.

5.2 Compile and publish the annual updates to the 1990 annotated bibliography on mobile libraries.

5.3 Compile and distribute a list of listservs and web links on mobile libraries and services.

5.4 Develop a homepage for the Round Table on Mobile libraries.

Goal 6

Promote collaboration across types of libraries, including mobile libraries, to provide access to information for lifelong learning.

Action:

6.1 Conduct a regional seminar on the use fo mobile libraries to provide and/or improve access to information for lifelong learning.

Goal 7

Advocate the use of mobile libraries to serve the needs of special populations such as women, families, indigenous peoples, unemployed, school dropouts and the elderly.

Action:

7.1 Sponsor the attendance of the Mobile Library serving Southern Summi people at the aboriginal native peoples conference in Norway 1998.