The First Lady calls for reducing the Digital Divide
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Alexandria, 10 November 2005—The World Summit on the Information Society ‘WSIS’ Pre-conference “Libraries – The Information Society in Action” was inaugurated today by Her Excellency Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, First Lady of Egypt and Chair of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Board of Trustees. The WSIS pre-conference taking place in the BA 10-11 November 2005, comes within the framework of the WSIS Phase II (Tunisia, 15-19 November 2005).
During the opening, H.E. Mrs. Mubarak welcomed the attendants, including librarians from all over the world, maintaining that
“the role of libraries within the Information Society is changing, growing, and adapting to the global society around them. Technology has enabled a revolution, not only in library services but in the very conception of the library.”
She pointed out how “As the amount of information rapidly grows, the main global concern becomes not just availability of information, but equal access and social inclusion as well,” mentioning that, “new obstacles, from exorbitant fees to rapidly changing technologies, could conspire to emphasize a digital divide” which is “a further separation of the poor from the rich countries”. Mrs. Mubarak also pointed out that the “Libraries are going to be the special instruments that will rise to the challenge of the digital divide. For by their nature they are devoted to openness and to inclusion, with “service to all” as their motto.”
Mrs Mubarak affirmed that “we will have a chance to make a dent in the enormous inequality in the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge between developed and developing countries.”, through encouraging ”rich country libraries to help their sister institutions in the developing world. To share resources and to build capacity” as well as “encourage authors and illustrators with prizes and recognition, assist publishers and distributors, and support libraries in their programs to expand and modernize”.
Moreover, she stressed on the “fundamental role Libraries play in our society” stating that “They are the collectors and stewards of our heritage; they are organizers of the knowledge in the books they collect – adding value by cataloguing, classifying and describing them; and, as public institutions, they assure equality of access for all citizens.”
Winding up her speech, she called for adding “three dimensions to the manners” of librarians, which are “First: the reader means everybody, second: Intellectual freedom” and finally, “the new technologies are extensions of the book and complement it.” And she added that “The message of the libraries and the librarians at WSIS will be an important one.” It is essential that your voice be a clarion call for freedom of expression and of access, for social inclusion and the promotion of the universal values of our common humanity.”
Among the speakers was Dr. Sohair wastawy, Chief Librarian at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, who gave a welcome speech. She mentioned the collection of activities taking place at the BA, since its opening in 2002, including the research centers, the museums, the galleries, the exhibitions and planetarium. She also asserted the aims of the library at becoming “the world’s window on Egypt; Egypt’s window on the world; an instrument for rising to the challenges of the digital age; and a center for dialogue between peoples and civilizations” and that the library “has truly grown by leaps and bounds”
Please visit the website: http://www.bibalex.org/WSISALEX/