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The Evolution of Mortenson Projects in Africa. Timeline Actions. Mellon funded Central American Project ends Mellon funds exploratory trip to South Africa
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Timeline Actions Mellon funded Central American Project ends Mellon funds exploratory trip to South Africa Ford, MacArthur, Rockefeller and Carnegie Foundations create the Partnership to Strengthen African Universities $100 Million initiative for 2000-05 Mellon funds the 3 year South African Library Leadership Project for $247,000 December 1999 January 2000 2000 December 2000
Timeline Actions Mellon funds a 3rd group of librarians to participate in the SALLP Program Carnegie funds a program for public librarians in Kenya for $49,000 Carnegie funds a needs assessment visit to 7 universities in Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania for $42,000 MacArthur shows interest in our work with university libraries in Nigeria Spring 2003 July 2003 January 2004 Spring 2004
Timeline Actions MacArthur funds a needs assessment visit to 3 university libraries in Nigeria Carnegie funds a 3 year project to provide technical and professional development assistance in library automation for 7 university libraries in Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda for $499,000 MacArthur asks if we will submit a proposal by September 2005 to work with 4 university libraries in Nigeria January 2005 March 2005 March 2005
Challenges for Academic Libraries in Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda
Difficult Political Settings • Statue of war victim displayed in Makerere University Library in Uganda
Harsh Environment • Heat, humidity and dust make the preservation of library materials difficult
Manual Systems • Circulation records at Obafemi Owolowo University Library in Nigeria
Lack of Resources for New Acquisitions • Displays for new journals, most are bulletins from NGOs or donations
Lack of Resources for New Acquisitions • Books are in poor condition • Most monographs pre-date 1990
Lack of Resources for New Acquisitions • Donations of journals, most are out of date
Poor Facilities • Lack of resources and weather wreak havoc on library facilities
Unstable Infrastructure • New computer lab in Ghana shut down because of lack of electricity
Unfamiliarity with New Technology • New computer lab in library is only open for students when librarians schedule training
Security • New arrivals are locked up for use only in the library
Opportunities for Academic Libraries in Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda
Foundations • New computers bought with Carnegie funds
Retro conversion • Staff members working to input materials in WorldCat
New Technologies • Training offered to users on new technologies
Digitization • Digitizing a historic newspaper collection in Nigeria
New Construction • New addition to a University Library in Ghana
Internet Cafes • Popular sites for students on campus
New Computer Labs • Ugandan students trained in electronic resources work on assignments
Back-up Power Systems • Solar panels used to generate back-up power