Group learns about digital library platform

A small group turned out Sunday afternoon to hear an update on Library For All, a digital library platform specifically aimed at developing countries, from its founder and CEO, Rebecca McDonald.

The gathering of about 12 was at the home of Nicole and Duc Nguyen. Attendees also learned how they can support the venture, established in 2012.

McDonald said the pilot was launched in October in a school in Gressier, Haiti, and by early next month, the plan is to be in 10 schools on the island nation. Content is designed for the specific country in which it's being used and can be used with the low bandwidth available.

"Our mission is to unlock knowledge to those who don't have access to knowledge in books, and the way we deliver it is on low-cost tablets," she said.

While the library is currently optimized for the tablets, McDonald said desktop and feature phone versions will soon be offered. Feature phones, or low-end mobile phones, with web capability.

McDonald said most of Library For All's time is spent on technology and curating the books for each location. They try to leverage the work they've already done as they move to different countries. The organization also tries to be as responsive as possible to what its users want.

Several of the people at Sunday's tea and conversation had met McDonald previously and they have been supporters of Library For All.

Plans are to expand to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Rwanda early next year.

The goal is to reach 5 million users by the end of 2017. "We have big plans; very ambitious; and at this stage, we're on track," McDonald said.

Before Library For All, McDonald worked in the construction industry in Australia, where she was responsible for the delivery of a $1 billion stimulus plan in Brisbane given by the Australian government. Rebecca also served for more than eight years as an Ambassador for Opportunity International, a leader in the microfinance industry, the organization's website said.

McDonald and her husband, Barry, who also has a construction background, moved to Haiti in 2010 to help rebuild after the earthquake. "I saw school after school with no books and I couldn't stand it, but I didn't think I could do anything about it," she recalled.

She began looking for a digital solution because she knew shipping books wouldn't be possible. She thought someone else would be working on the same idea, so she did a lot of research, but no one else was. Faced with a decision of going back to her "comfortable life in Australia," or spending her life delivering books to children who don't have them, she settled on the latter.

The couple spent two and a half years in Haiti and now live in Long Island City, New York, with their 14-month-old son, Michael.

"I know I've found my calling; my purpose," McDonald said.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

Gressier, Haiti

Long Island City, NY