Social challenge 1: How to improve the quality of libraries in rural China?
Why is this important?
Libraries provide a gateway to knowledge for rural population
Background
Most people who live in rural areas lack access to good libraries due to lack of government funding. Libraries that do exist often have poor infrastructure and are not well managed.
Status Quo
Non profits have donated money to rebuild rural libraries. However most resources are put into building hard infrastructures, rather than improving the quality of the libraries. Rural libraries often lack access to good quality books, and librarians lack professional training.
Response from Group 1: Mobile Barnes & Nobles
|
Goal |
Bring mobile libraries to rural area, engage university students to serve rural libraries |
|
Solution |
• Build mobile libraries, facilitated with wifi and computers to rural villages regularly
• Use the mobile libraries as a
platform for teaching
• Engage university students to
volunteer in rural libraries
|
Comments