Garcia, Barbara Minguez. “Ideas Box: the Library That Promotes Literacy and Builds Disaster Resilience-a Q&A.” The Sustainable Cities Blog, The World Bank, 18 Sept. 2017, blogs.worldbank.org/sustainablecities/ideas-box-library-promotes-literacy-builds-disaster-resilience. Accessed 29 Nov. 2018. When natural disaster strikes, culture, and access to information is just as crucial in the rebuilding process as food, water and a place to live. Libraries Without Borders, also known as BSF, is an organization where libraries are provided to disaster-stricken areas and remote areas. Through bookmobiles, pop up libraries and book tents, the educational and cultural needs of society are easily met. After an earthquake in Haiti, it was Libraries Without Borders that came in and provided tent libraries. This proved beneficial to all the refugees who were now living in the refugee camps.
These tent libraries provided information and acted as cultural centers. These mobile and immobile spaces provided some emotional relief to all those suffering from the 2010 Haiti earthquake. A variety of BSF’s resources help people cope with all the overwhelming emotions that come with natural disasters. BSF creates spaces where there are a variety of resources for all those who visit them to use through the Ideas Box. Internet and devices that connect to the internet are only one of the many tools offered. Arts and crafts and games are provided. There are books and the Ideas Box also provides digital recording equipment. These resources benefit people of all ages, children and adults alike. Through these devices, lives are improved. BSF is redefining what it means to be a library. They are adapting all the benefits of a library to suit the needs of the modern era and those in less fortunate communities. The BiblioTapTap Bus, or their bookmobile, is one of the vessels through which this method is carried out.
Also, with the Ideas Box, there is the IdeasCube which is cloud software. BSF’s portable centers help those who are living in communities isolated from a society and those discriminated against out of spaces where similar resources were offered. Libraries Without Borders main purpose has to do with literacy. They focus their efforts not on privileged or easy to access areas, but on places that need their libraries and services. They set up in places where there is a shortage of educational and cultural resources. They set up in places where it is remote and/or isolated. BSF works to find ways to better serve these communities and properly curate the content for the locations they serve. Libraries Without Borders does many things. They build libraries, which help give people access to many valuable opportunities.
They train librarians, creating jobs. They strengthen existing library networks, benefitting the people in those communities. Through each of these things, they are creating a more sustainable future for society. BSF is unlike your typical library because they are highly adaptable. They will design themselves in accordance with who they’re serving and are constantly providing the educational and cultural items that best suit the respective communities needs. Whereas natural disasters and manmade disasters may seem like a barrier to learning for refugees, Libraries without Borders are breaking through that barrier and helping these people develop the skills necessary for success. Even with more and more natural and manmade disasters, BSF is helping to make the situation a little less scary and helping communities rebuild themselves mentally with culture and education. All through the power of libraries.
