World bank activities in library and documentation services provision in developing countries

Abstract

Abstract The World Bank's lending activities to its member developing countries focus on providing loans for economic development. In this process, the Bank is also involved in improving the information activities in these countries. Many of the Bank's loans include an information component, often embedded within the project. In addition, even if the request for an information component in a project is not stated explicitly, the overall environment for activities with development impact has changed. To ensure that a project is accomplished satisfactorily often requires an element of information transfer in addition to infrastructure components. The Bank's support to these information activities has been limited, with the development of information services or libraries often forming only a minor component of the overall project. As the information age progresses, organizations such as the World Bank are likely to become increasingly involved in lending for information services and documentation support. Questions arise on whether borrowing countries perceive an increasing need for projects in information development, especially given the fact that many of the multi-lateral and bi-lateral aid agencies are working in information- related projects. The issue to be addressed for the World Bank is whether and to what extent there is a need for greater or different World Bank involvement in this area.