LIBE 477 - World Libraries - Literacy in Belize
This week’s topic is one that I was looking forward to exploring further. Learning about library programs around the world will make for great blog reading!
Belize is the country I will be researching further, as it holds a special place in my growth as a teacher and learner. I completed my B.Ed at the University of Lethbridge. I completed several courses in International education, and I had big dreams of where the world of teaching might take me! I was fortunate to have the opportunity to complete a full semester of teaching internationally as part of my program. The University had a partnership with the University of Belize, and I was accepted to be one of six students who traveled and taught in Belize. My placement was at a primary school in Belmopan. Under the mentorship of my professor Pamela Winsor, and her work with Belize’s Language to Literacy Program I was excited about being able to teach and share my love of literacy. While there, I lived with a family on the edge of the jungle, learned about another education system, culture, and country, and did my best to teach a class of 40 grade one students. There was much to adjust to. Notably, the school did not have a library or any books in the classroom. The supply I had brought to correspond to carefully crafted lessons were well-loved and read. It was incredible to see the universal magic of reading aloud, especially in a school without many resources. In the 14 years since that experience, I am interested to see what has changed in the world of literacy and libraries.
Belize is a small country in Central America with a population of 400 000 people. It achieved independence from Britain in 1981 but remains part of the Commonwealth. Unlike its neighbours of Guatemala and Mexico, Belize's official language is English, but many Belizians are multi-lingual as Creole, Spanish, Kekchi, Yucatec and Mopan are also spoken. Brittanica states that 76% of the population over the age of 15 literate.
As I began to explore online and learn about specific library projects in Belize, it looks like much has changed since I was last there. Public libraries have become centralized and developed an online presence, and seem to be current and updated regularly.
There are two main library hubs. Belize has a National Library Service and Information System (BNLSIS) website and also a website through the University of Belize. Both of these sites are open and available for public browsing and usage. BNLSIS has updated features like ordering books through WhatsApp. The online resources through the BNLSIS feature updated online resources like Scholastic Learn at Home and classroom staples like Storyline Online.
The umbrella of BNLSIS also is a hub for the local libraries. The San Pedro Library programs page shows information about book sign-out, reading programs hosted by volunteers, and computer access for children.
The San Pedro Library states on its website:
The library believes an educated population benefits the entire island and the country of Belize. In support of that belief, the Library assists the population of San Pedro and Ambergris Caye to meet their educational needs. To achieve this, the Library creates an environment that encourages the pursuit of learning by providing access to a rich selection of reading materials, to a substantial collection of printed and electronic reference works, and access to the Internet for research and information on current world events. (https://ambergriscaye.com/library/index.html)
The partnership between school and library seems to be valued and the public library is an important part of the larger community as well.
It was more difficult to find specific information on school libraries. Searches of school libraries in Belize show initiatives posted to youtube and globalgiving.org to stock and support school libraries with books. What it would appear given the research and information gathered is that school libraries vary in resource availability and quality. One article from Ambergris Today Newspaper (2018) shows students enjoying their new library. The article states: "The San Pedro Roman Catholic School reached out to the community of San Pedro for assistance in form of donations to be able to fix their library that was in dire need of repairs, the building had broken doors and windows and the exterior walls are all rotting and falling apart" (Nunez 2018).
Access to online libraries through mobile devices might be one of the ways to provide further access to information. According to theglobaleconomy.com, in 2018, 85% of Belizian were mobile phone subscribers. However, it is not clear if these are phones that would have the capacity to access and search internet resources. Having access to devices at school would be ideal for teaching and learning. Online devices would also be preferable as, in my experience, books did not have a long shelf life in the humidity of the tropical climate. However, the logistics around this is challenging. Partnering with the public libraries, like is illustrated in San Pedro seems like a practical and helpful arrangement. Community members are involved, there is access to books and technology, as well as librarians. Seems like a win.
There is no easy answer, in determining what a community needs for support or further development. However, increased awareness, resources, and access to information all would be helpful as the goal to promote and support literacy. In my travels, that meant, learning alongside teachers, as well as sharing what I was learning. Partnerships in education, listening to communities’ needs, and supporting at the grassroots level might be a way to further support library development.
Works Cited
Belize Mobile phone subscribers, per 100 people - data, chart. TheGlobalEconomy.com. https://www.theglobaleconomy.com/Belize/Mobile_phone_subscribers_per_100_people/.
Belize National Library Service and Information System (BNLSIS). https://bnlsis.org/.
Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Belize. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Belize.
Library. University of Belize. https://www.ub.edu.bz/about-ub/leadership-and-governance/administrative-and-academic-leadership/library/.
Nuñez, D. (2018, February 9). Children Enjoying the New San Pedro RC School Library. Ambergris Today. https://www.ambergristoday.com/news/2018/02/09/children-enjoying-new-san-pedro-rc-school-library.
Pixabay. (2020, October 17). https://pixabay.com/.
San Pedro Library, What We Do! Belize Libraries. https://ambergriscaye.com/library/whatwedo.html.
Winsor, P., & Hansen, J. (1999). Coming to Know as Teachers: Learning Together in Belize. The Reading Teacher, 52(8), 810-818. Retrieved November 2, 2020, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20204701
This is a well-researched post. The narrative style of the post and personal connections make it an engaging read. I had not considered the impact that climate has on print resources! I appreciate your ideas about the importance of partnerships and collaboration, understanding community need and work at the grassroots level.
ReplyDeleteHi Shannon, I enjoyed reading your post. Belize is such an interesting country! It's definitely on my list of places to visit if we can ever travel again. I have a question for you.
ReplyDeleteThis illustrates part of the challenges public and school libraries face. Lack of funding and relying on donations make it difficult to provide sustainable library programming. This can also mean relying on donated books or resources not needed in other schools which is also problematic. - what do you mean by problematic? Just curious. Thanks!
Hi Jennifer,
DeleteThe part that I think is problematic is that I think it can be difficult to create a wholistic collection when it largely comprised and relying on donated books. Additionally, donated books are often ones that are no longer of value to the person donating, meaning that they are older publications or books that have seen some wear and tear. With donations, I think it it preferable to have a monetary one, where the library can purchase titles that they feel would fit the collection, and adding titles patrons are excited about. This also allows books to be purchased in the community, further supporting the local economy and potentially even local authors or publications. I am not against book donations, but think that when libraries are relying on them to create a collection, that it can be tricky. I hope that helps!
Thanks for asking!
Shannon,
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrific experience you must have had, doing part of your training in Belize. Building school library programs with the support of public library programs seems like a logical step.
As I have been reading through people's posts this week, I am wondering if there is a place, or a group, that matches libraries for partnership; sort of like a twin or sister city program. If school libraries were twinned together, it would create a great space for learning and sharing, and also create an opportunity for one community to help another community with fundraising and resources.
Have you ever heard of such an organization that does this? I have not. I wonder if anyone else has?
Alison
Alison, that is an incredible idea.
DeleteI have not heard of anything like this, but I think it is fantastic. I would be very interested in participating in such a program!
If there is not such an organization, there would be an interest and a need! This would be an amazing vision project!
Hi Shannon,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your experience in Belize! That would be so wonderful and totally overwhelming!
It's amazing to think about what the libraries in Belize have done in the time since you have been there, especially with the (most likely) new internet access that they have. It seems to be a common theme that many of the people in these developing nation have cellphones (some with internet access and some not) but once the infrastructure is there to support internet, the whole scope of education and literacy can shift onto mobile learning, which will open so many doors for students and people who, otherwise, had very little options.