Project Description

The Information Program of Open Society Institute created and initiated the Mobile Information ans Communication project in 2000 to address the widening information inequalities of under-developed areas of Southeast Europe.

Branded INFOBUS, the project merged an Internet-equipped mobile library and ICT multimedia centre designed to deliver independent information resources and empowering tools to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.

INFOBUS Factsheet

Operating environment : Post-conflict, transitional, under-developed areas
Project sites: Tirana, Albania ; Prizren, Kosovo ; Shtip, Macedonia ; Bijelo Polje, Montenegro; Prijepolje, Serbia.
Primary target groups : rural populations, vulnerable and disadvantaged groups
User profile : primary education or below, significant portion living below subsistence level, includes internally displaced persons, refugees, migrants
Services free of charges:

1 Loan of books and multimedia (non-book) materials, daily newspaper and magazines
2 Reading areas with special sections on civic education, human right, public health, agriculture development and government benefits and services
3 Listening and viewing stations (television, VCR, stereo cassette, CD palyer, digital camera, VHS, e-books, audio books
4 Electronic reference service
5 Computer workstations with “training of trainers” and community facilitators
6 Internet access (GPRS, microwave/satellite, dial up)
7 E-mail accounts
8 Printing (limited)
9 Special services for children and adult learners (puzzles, games, storytelling)
10 Open competitions and exhibitions for promotion of literacy and scholarly literature
11 Seminars and lectures

Website : http://www.infobus.org

Implementers:
Tirana Public Library No. 5, Tirana, Albania: www.infobus-albania.org.al
Xhemajli Berish Inter-Municipal Library, Prizren, Kosovo: http://infobus-kspz.org
Goce Delcev Regional Library Center, Shtip, Macedonia: www.infobus.org.mk
V.B. Strunjo Municipal Library, Bijelo Polje, Montenegro: www.infobus.cg.yu
Vuk Karadzic Municipal Library, Prijepolje, Serbia: www.infobus.co.yu

Country Managers:
INFOBUS-Albania: Tefta Buzo, President, Albanian Library Association; buzot2001@yahoo.com
INFOBUS-Kosovo (UNMIK): Sahadete Sadikaj, Director, Xhemajli Berish Inter-Municipal Library; biblioteka_pz@hotmail.com
INFOBUS-Macedonia: Snezana Golomeova, Director, Goce Delcev Regional Library Center; snezanag@nbgdst.edu.mK
INFOBUS-Montenegro: Slava Lukovic, Director, V.B. Strunjo Municipal Library; bibliotekabp@hotmail.com
INFOBUS-Serbia: Hadija Krijestorac, Senior Librarian, Vuk Karadzic Municipal Library; library@EUnet.yu