February 3, 2015
UW Information School has key role as Gates Foundation’s Global Libraries Initiative winds down
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has worked for years with the University of Washington Information School‘s Technology & Social Change Group on the foundation’s multi-year Global Libraries Initiative, dedicated to improving digital connectivity around the world.
The Gates Foundation announced in May 2014 that the initiative is entering a three- to five-year winding-down phase and is creating a “legacy strategy” to help leave the library field in strong shape after that time.
The strategy is still being drafted, but the foundation has named three lead “legacy partners” to assist in this work. The UW’s Technology & Social Change Group — also called TASCHA — was named one of the three.
The other two partners going forward are The Public Library Association, a 9,000-member division of the American Library Association; and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, with 1,500 members in 150 countries.
“This is exciting news for the iSchool and for our entire community,” Information School Dean Harry Bruce told colleagues. He said the partners will work together with the foundation to refine the legacy strategy framework and expect to receive grants once that work is complete.
“The selection of TASCHA is a testament to the quality of their research and the support they have for the work in the field and in our school,” Bruce wrote.
Learn more about the UW Information School’s role in the Gates Foundation Global Libraries Initiative at the school’s website.
