Common humanitarian technical library Tom Corsellis Executive Director Shelter Centre 25 th May 2012

Content summary Common library 1. Problem statement 2. Approach 3.Progress to date 4.Discussion

1.Problem statement Three challenges 1.1Accessing knowledge 1.2Where to find knowledge in different languages? 1.3The limitations of moderated libraries

1.Problem statement –ReliefWeb and HumanitarianResponse offer global resources managing information such as situation reports and news feeds, however there is no comparable resource managing knowledge, such as policies or technical guidelines –Knowledge exists currently on tens of thousands of websites of humanitarian stakeholders, from governments to NNGOs, with varying support –Unlike for information, Google is currently the only way to find out what knowledge is where 1.1Accessing knowledge

1.Problem statement –It is easy to find information in European languages, but what about those that are not? How are local staff able to share and access resources in their own languages? –As part of a pilot project, Shelter Centre contracted the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre, which reported challenges in locating local documents 1.2Where to find knowledge in different languages?

1.Problem statement –Moderation often reflects the priorities of library managers rather than users –Moderation is costly to administer and slows uploading, as each document is reviewed –It is impractical to create a moderated global library of knowledge in multiple languages 1.3 The limitations of moderated libraries

1.Problem statement For example –How would you find this, if you did not know the exact title? –How would you find similar resources? –How would you moderate this? –Where would you share this?

Content summary Common library 1. Problem statement 2. Approach 3.Progress to date 4.Discussion

2.Approach 2.1Website mock-up 2.2Integration opportunities with UN/OCHA and IASC 2.3Governance and participation 2.4User-driven interaction

2.Approach 2.1Website mock-up Initial content will be migrated from the Shelter Library. The website will includes features such as: –content relevant to country profiles –news and event feeds –projects and innovation –learning platform for training resources –online community forum –vacancy listings

2.Approach 2.1Website mock-up Initial content will be migrated from the Shelter Library. The website will includes features such as: –content relevant to country profiles –news and event feeds –projects and innovation –learning platform for training resources –online community forum –vacancy listings

2.Approach 2.2Integration opportunities with UN/OCHA and IASC

2.Approach 2.2Integration opportunities with UN/OCHA and IASC

2.Approach -Five Regional Advisory Groups (RAGs), will offer regional focus, as well as accountability, engagement and dissemination -RAGs will identify partners with specialist local knowledge who are able to upload content to the library in local languages 2.3Governance and participation

2.Approach 2.3Governance and participation

2.Approach –User upload: like YouTube, users and institutions will also include institutions will be able to directly upload documents onto the library –Prioritisation: documents will be listed by popularity, 5-star rating, user comment, proximity, and relevance (‘people who viewed this also viewed these’) –Booklists: users will be able to create their own ‘booklists’ or playlists of knowledge, creating moderated libraries within libraries for communities, individuals, organisations, handovers and training 2.4User-driven interaction

2. Approach The website intends to combine the interactivity of YouTube/Vevo/smartphones and the structure of Amazon

Content summary Common library 1. Problem statement 2. Approach 3.Progress to date 4.Discussion

3.Progress to date 3.1Existing Shelter Library 3.2 Work compliments the cluster approach 3.3Current collaboration with UN/OCHA, IASC 3.4Negotiations with USAID

3.Progress to date -In 2011 alone, the Shelter Library was accessed from 208 of the 233 countries and territories worldwide -This includes disaster-prone countries such as Haiti with small academic communities, suggesting that users are operational stakeholders 3.1Existing Shelter Library

3.Progress to date Shelter Centre is a member of 5 IASC clusters – Camp Coordination & Camp Management (CCCM) – Early Recovery – Emergency Shelter – Protection – WASH The library contains content related to these clusters, whilst ongoing meetings indicated interest to integrate the ‘booklists’ from the common library onto cluster websites 3.2 Work compliments the IASC cluster approach

3.Progress to date UN/OCHA granted Shelter Centre access to its development space, inviting comment and observation of on-going build of Humanitarian Response, which is the IASC inter-cluster site for national use that replaces OneResponse UN/OCHA offered to share the Humanitarian Response software platform, optimising integration 3.3Current collaboration with UN/OCHA and the IASC

3.Progress to date Ongoing discussions are in the concluding stages about funding the first agile phase of the common library 3.4 Negotiations with USAID

Content summary Common library 1. Problem statement 2. Approach 3.Progress to date 4.Discussion

Comments? -Please fill in the ICT survey in your welcome packs -Developing an “app” for electronic devices -Would it be useful?

4. Discussion Comments? 1. Please raise your hand if you have experienced bandwidth issues in the field. 2. What percent of the time has this been a problem? 25%50%75%100%

4. Discussion Comments? 1.Please raise your hand if you use the following devices –Smartphones –Tablet PCs –eReaders 2.What about your field staff?

4. Discussion Comments? Shelter Centre is considering developing an application “app” software of the Shelter Library for electronic devices. This will include features for: 1. Downloading later, through a shopping list function 2. Integrating with Dropbox, or similar offline tool

4. Discussion Comments? Would this be useful? What functions would you like to see? ` Please fill in your ICT Survey and hand it to one of the Shelter Centre volunteers or it to if you are online