American Corner launches digital library in Zanzibar

June 12, 2012

Pictured is U.S. expert Ellis Ballard (with black Jacket) from the International Council for Disabilities giving a presentation on how the digital library works to some of intended beneficiaries.

The American Corner which is co-located at main library at the State University of Zanzibar over the weekend launched an eGranary Digital Library, a device that provides instant access to thousands of digital documents without the need of a connection to the Internet. The eGranary Digital Library database is funded by the American people thought the Unites States Agency for International Development (USAID).

More than 50,000 documents of different subjects including subjects on disabilities are contained in that device and can be accessed for free at the American Corner. This device was purposely installed at the American Corner so that people with disabilities as well as researchers, teachers and associations dealing with disabilities can easily access it.

During a brief launching ceremony Islam Seif Salum, Deputy Principal Secretary of the office of the First Vice President was the guest of honor. More than 30 participants representing various government institutions such as the department of disabilities under the office of the Zanzibar First Vice President, disabilities associations, university students and journalists from various media houses in Zanzibar attended the ceremony. A U.S. expert Ellis Ballard from the International Council for Disabilities gave a presentation on how the digital library works and answered participants' questions.

Sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania and participating local institutions, American Corners in Tanzania are joint projects aimed at providing information on America and educational resources on a broad variety of formats to the Tanzanian people. Currently there are three American Corners in Tanzania, in Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mwanza.