Given the strong connection between the theme of the 2010 International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) conference — open access to knowledge — and the Global Impact Study’s open research approach, we were pleased to present a poster about our inventory database and web application.

The poster — Open data and open tools: The Global Impact Study inventory and web application — authored by Chris Rothschild, Araba Sey, and Alexander Tulinsky, was presented by Chris Coward. The poster highlights the data users can view through the web application, such as location, ownership, internet access fees, and types of public access venues in Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Lithuania, and the Philippines. The poster also explores several delicate issues surrounding open research and open data, including privacy concerns, ethical issues, data validity, and conditions of use.

While this tool is primarily intended for researchers, many practitioners at IFLA thought it would be useful for them as well: “I wish this data and database existed for all countries!” But Chris Coward cautioned that the Global Impact Study did not set out to create a comprehensive database, nor should it be used as such. Rather, it is our hope that this tool, in the spirit of open research, will be beneficial and useful to researchers and practitioners alike.

For more information about the inventory database and web application you can download a PDF of the poster.

For more information about the inventory research activity, browse inventory updates.

The presentation was held in conjunction with the launch of a new CIS paper: Libraries, telecentres and cybercafés: a study of public access venues around the world.

• Inform the International Advisory Committee of the progress of the project, particularly on the status of the research design effort
• Obtain advice and input on the research design development strategy
• Gather input on the emerging trends and issues related to public access to ICT and/or impact assessment methodology
• Gather input on the potential stakeholders’ interest in the project and strategy for outreach and communications to these stakeholders, and
• Clarify the Committee’s operational mandate and internal working mechanisms.

Based on discussions that emerged during the workshop, the International Advisory Committee provided the following recommendations:

• Consider three tiers of “success” for the project itself: data, analysis, and policy impact
• Collect as much data in a uniform way across as many sites as possible (both quantitative and qualitative data)
• Make all of the data, as well as the data-collection methodology, available to the general public
• Restrict attention to centers that provide public access to general-purpose computing devices and/or the Internet
• Brand the project
• Establish the core research working group as mentor figures to the country teams

Download PDF of the complete meeting minutes and more detail on the recommendations.

Download PDF of Francisco Proenza’s commentary on plans for the first phase of the Global Impact Study (dated May 13, 2008). Francisco is a member of the 5nternational Advisory Committee.