UNET THE UNESCO MODEL LIBRARY NETWORK Trying to make reality of the UNESCO Public Library Manifesto

Background of UNET With the adoption of the third Manifesto by UNESCO in 1994, we once again have an international document which expresses the desirable goals for library developments in all member states, even if the roads towards the goals appear to be of varying lengths.

UNET According to the Swedish National Council for Cultural Affairs, the project was to comprise: Testing of new media. Playing a more active role in education. Developing the library as a cultural centre. Developing the library as a local information centre and defining its role in the information society. Becoming part of an international network.

Participating countries Portugal, Spain, Estonia, Sweden, Zimbabwe, Canada, Chile and Malaysia these countries have all conducted an independent evaluation of their libraries on the basis of the UNESCO

Estonia - Zimbabwe

Many ways to get to know eachother

Summary The Manifesto is an extremely useful tool. Even though there are many differences among the participating libraries, they can and do all use the Manifesto as a guideline within their work. In all our evaluations it is clear that all countries in some way fulfil the missions of the manifesto. Libraries reflect their surroundings. UNET has observed how different libraries stress different parts of the Manifesto. For example, in Zimbabwe there is a strong oral tradition which the libraries work hard to maintain. In Sweden, where this tradition is dying out, the Manifesto encourages the libraries to initiate work in this area.

Libraries are more and more becoming ”learning institutions” Libraries are more and more becoming ”learning institutions”. This has increased in importance even more since the first evaluation reports were written. ”Lifelong learning” is now a reality in all the countries, and it is clear that the libraries participating in UNET are important institutions for lifelong learning within their municipalities. Because the financial situation of public institutions is generally declining, the task of promoting lifelong learning is becoming more of an economic issue. Thus there are more demands, but the funds to meet them are lacking. UNET’s largest impact has been made within the circle of participating libraries, and there are many libraries who have remained untouched by the work of UNET. Even within the UNET libraries, the enthusiasm has not always been great, particularly when UNET work has interfered with the daily workload. With adequate funding, the work of UNET could extend across a broader spectrum, and also could be applied more to the task of transforming the abstract ideas of the manifesto into practical achievements. This would greatly boost the impact of the project.

UNET can confirm that the UNESCO public library manifesto is understood, appreciated and applied by libraries across the world. The different libraries have different interpretations of the manifesto and their work within it, and it is precisely this that has enriched all UNET participants and given them a deeper insight into their own work and roles in bringing the public library to the community.

Progress step by step