Inviting Success: Lessons from public access computing experiences around the world

Gomez, Ricardo

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/14907 Copy

Description

Title

Inviting Success: Lessons from public access computing experiences around the world

Author(s)

Gomez, Ricardo

Issue Date

2010-02-03

Keyword(s)

• telecentres
• libraries
• cybercafes
• public access computing
• success factors
• information communication technologies developments (ICTD)

Abstract

This paper presents findings from a comparative study of libraries, telecentres, and cybercafés in 25 countries around the world (and is part of a larger study in Latin America, Africa & the Middle East, South & Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe); it focuses particularly on the factors that contribute to the centres’ success across countries and types of centres. We clustered the results into five key success factors for public access computing: (1) understand and take care of local needs first,(2) build alliances with other venues, (3) collaborate with other media and community services, (4) strengthen sustainability, (5) train infomediaries and users. Taken individually, these factors are not new, as evidenced in the literature in the field. The value of these findings is their presentation together as a result of comparative research across multiple countries and different types of public access centres. This study provides strong validation that these five success factors are critical variables to be considered in policy decisions and program implementation. They also provide valuable direction for future research to explore each of the issues in more detail.

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/14907

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