“Local transformation, global access”: If not now, when?

Abstract

This study focuses on the reasons for the existence of the Libraries for Everyone (LIFE) Project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, hosted by the Hacettepe University Technopolis-Technology Transfer Center. In general, the aim of the Project is to transform the municipal public libraries in Turkey to a center of attraction for the citizens. The LIFE Project, which is trying to put into practice its philosophically embraced “local transformation, global access” motto, has started in 2016 and is being carried out in 156 libraries in 31 cities as of 30 January 2017. In the forthcoming stages, new cities and libraries may be involved into the Project. Compared to European countries in particular, it is seen that Turkey is relatively behind other countries in various indicators, such as percentage of registered library users with the total population, Internet penetration rate. In this study, statistics compiled from various authority sources are shared and the studies carried out within the scope of the Project and to be carried out in the future are illustrated in order to record improvement in these statistics.