CONTACT:
John Crosby
+1.703.647.4916
jcrosby@sla.org
Barbie Keiser
International Relations Committee
Washington, D.C., Chapter
+1.703.823.4085
barbieelene@att.net
SLA PARTNERS WITH WORLD COMPUTER EXCHANGE
TO BRIDGE DIGITAL DIVIDE
Alexandria, Virginia USA, 22 February 2006 —The Special Libraries Association (SLA) is partnering with World Computer Exchange (WCE) to facilitate the donation of computer equipment by SLA members, help improve information literacy and advance information access and professionalism in developing nations.
“It’s easy for those of us in the most developed economies to take for granted our access to information in the public domain—we log onto our computers at home, in our offices, we even carry them in our pockets and purses,” said SLA Chief Executive Officer Janice R. Lachance. “But many people in developing parts of the world can only dream of that,” Lachance said. “SLA is perfectly positioned to work with WCE to bridge the digital divide.”
WCE is an international, educational nonprofit working through non-governmental organizations. It solicits and accepts donated computers and refurbishes, prepares, and ships them to projects in developing nations—mainly schools, libraries, and academic institutions. A network of WCE volunteers provides online support to maintain the computers, train teachers, and encourage the development of local content and resources.
“SLA Chapters will work with WCE members, soliciting donations of computers and the financial resources needed to ship them abroad,” said Barbie Keiser, a member of the SLA Washington, D.C. Chapter’s International Relations Committee, which is spearheading the partnership. “Our active, global member network is aware of libraries and information projects in parts of the world that would benefit greatly from even a small number of computers being installed and used. We look forward to exploring how we can share our knowledge about finding, using, and developing quality information resources with WCE project leaders in these regions.”
For more information about the partnership, visit www.sla.org/wce. For more about WCE, visit www.worldcomputerexchange.org.
About SLA
The Special Libraries Association (SLA) is a nonprofit global organization for innovative information professionals and their strategic partners. SLA serves more than 11,000 members in 83 countries in the information profession, including corporate, academic and government information specialists. SLA promotes and strengthens its members through learning, advocacy, and networking initiatives. For more information, visit us on the Web at www.sla.org.
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