Library Rebuilding in Afghanistan

1. Library Rebuilding in Afghanistan • Project funded by the International Arid Lands Consortium (IALC) Sustainable Development of Drylands Project via a Cooperative Agreement with USAID-ANE. • 1st phase completed in June, 2004 by UA Librarian, Atifa Rawan, with assistance from the University of Arizona’s Arid Lands Information Center (ALIC). • 2nd phase follow-up underway, further progress. • 3rd phase next steps, a comprehensive approach.

2. Acknowledgements: The People Who Helped Atifa Make It Happen • Dr. Fayez, Former Minister of Higher Education • Prof. Popal, Former President, Kabul University • Prof. Mohsini, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture • Dr. Wassimi, Executive Manager, ICARDA-Kabul • Ismail Khan, Administrator, and College of Agriculture staff and student representatives • Barbara Hutchinson and Carla Casler, ALIC, UA • Bob Freitas, IALC • Nicole Joos, TEEAL Project, Mann Library, Cornell University

3. Phase 1- What was accomplished in June 2004 • Created the first academic electronic library in Afghanistan. • Remodeled and refurbished a facility. • Purchased computers and equipment. • Installed The Essential Electronic Agriculture Library (TEEAL, Cornell University) and other critical electronic resources. • Established a partnership relationship with the ICARDA representative in Kabul for this project. • Established relationships with the US Embassy and USAID officials in Kabul. • Made the arrangements with Dean of College of Agriculture to hire a field coordinator for facility.

4. Library checkout desk before remodeling

5. First Step – Cleaning the Room

6. Second Step – Painting the Room

7. Hanging the Drapes Made for the Room

8. Electrical Wiring for Internet Access

9. Students organizing and sorting books

10. The Agricultural Electronic Library – Ready for Opening

11. Dr. Mohsini and the TEEAL Collection

12. The Grand Opening Ceremony-Ribbon Cutting by Minister Fayez

13. Ribbon Cutting by Dr. Glover, US Embassy in Kabul

14. Student Making Speech at Grand Opening

15. The Reception after the Opening – Two ICARDA Representatives

16. Phase II - Follow-Up and Progress • Current Library Status • Open from 9:00am to 3:30pm • Staffed by Mr. Madadi – Project Field Coordinator and Kabul University Instructor, received UIUC Project agriculture training courses at NWFP-AU, Peshawar, Pakistan. • Provides computer & TEEAL training for faculty and students. • Maintains facility, keeps statistics and contacts list. • Receives training materials from TEEAL coordinator. • Additional computers, furniture and supplies purchased. • Draft Proposal for Comprehensive Agricultural Library Redevelopment • submitted to USAID/Kabul and the US Embassy in Afghanistan in June 2004

17. Follow-Up – cont. • Expansion of the electronic library concept forwarded to USAID-Kabul, US Embassy-Kabul, and USAID-ANE, Summer, 2004. • Discussions to establish collaboration were held in Fall, 2004 with USDA, National Agriculture Library. • Suggestion of Scott Christiansen • Multiple institutions involved including University of Illinois, Texas A&M, and the Univ. of Arizona • Close communications maintained with: • Mr. Madadi, Field Coordinator, • Dean of Agriculture College, • Minister of Higher Education, • ICARDA Executive Manager in Kabul to ensure effective operation of the AEL

18. Follow-UP- cont. • UA project participants and ICARDA Executive Manager met in Tucson in November, 2004. Efforts to formalize relationship with Dr. Wassimi and ICARDA are ongoing • ICARDA is providing assistance in purchasing equipment, payment of Field Coordinator and definition of Internet connection issues. • UA Project participants have completed several presentations and short articles. • UA collaborating with Mortenson Center for International Library Programs, UIUC Library: • discussions and meeting held with Barbara J. Ford, Director, in January to define collaboration.

19. Follow Up- cont. • The UA project participants submitted a complementary proposal for an Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant to fund training for library staff of Afghanistan Higher Education Institutions. • Sustainable Development Project Director, IALC, visited the AEL facility in Kabul in January, 2005 and met with: • Dean of College of Agriculture, • Project Field Coordinator • Minister of Higher Education, • ICARDA Executive Manager, • USAID Mission Officer, Dan Miller,and Director, Patrick Fine, in Kabul.

20. 3rd Phase - Next Steps • Continue to develop comprehensive proposal with collaborators, U of A, UIUC-Mortensen Center, USDA National Agricultural Library, and the Kabul Office of ICARDA: • Proposal revised in December 2004 to include additional regional universities. • U of A Librarian, Atifa Rawan, will provide training in Afghanistan of the electronic resources to Mr. Madadi and other faculty members in the College of Agriculture, Spring, 2005. • Maintain and expand (as limited funds) capabilities of current facility and discuss comprehensive approach with USAID of Library Rebuilding in Afghanistan.

21. Afghanistan Regional Institutions

22. Atifa with students who worked organizing and cleaning books